The attack unfolded in about 20 minutes and hit 30 to 40 different tokens. Binance said customer funds are safe. The exchange has frozen $4.2 billion and is working to recover the funds.

Billions of dollars in commitments to buy AI chips by Firmus are in doubt as a result of the Australian data centre company's stalled attempt to go public, according to records filed with the financial regulator.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers called for calm. He said inflation could run well above the central bank's August forecast of 3.5%.

Australia's inflation rate picked up more than expected in September, increasing expectations of an interest rate hike next week.

Australian government agencies have conditionally approved $110 million and $70 million in funding for the project. Total committed funding for the project is $360 million. It is projected to contribute $205 million annually to the regional economy.

Woodside has agreed to sell its 33% stake in the Greater Sunrise project to Timor Gap, Timor-Leste's state-owned energy company. The consideration is up to $285 million.

The cost of insuring against a debt default by Wall Street's tech titans has hit record levels. Soaring debt and rising interest rates have investors fretting about a potential collapse.

Australian shares are set to open higher, with ASX 200 futures up 1% at 8,839 points, after Wall Street closed higher even as investors retreated from technology stocks. The International Energy Agency agreed to release more than 20 million barrels of diesel to the market to cool prices. BHP is seeking about US$8.6 million in compensation from a union at its Spence copper mine in Chile. GameStop holds roughly 9.8% of an online marketplace, a stake valued at US$4.9 billion.

Australia's unemployment rate remained at 4.7% in September. Employment fell by 39,300 and the number of officially unemployed people rose by 8,900. The participation rate eased to 66.8% from 67%, leaving the September-quarter average at 4.63%, above the Reserve Bank's 4.5% forecast for the fourth quarter. Trend measures were steadier, with unemployment at 4.6%, participation at 66.9% and hours worked unchanged.