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BHP has called on Anglo American to extend negotiations between the pair over a blockbuster takeover, in a new sign the mining giant believes Anglo is not serious about ongoing talks.

Inflation has climbed for a second month to 3.6 per cent in the year to April, from 3.5 per cent in the month before, confounding expectations that consumer price growth would restart its downward trend.

Small and medium enterprises are fighting for survival as wage increases running at double the rate of inflation, combined with cost of living pressures and an economic slowdown, put more businesses under pressure.