Good morning,

Reporting season kicks off this week as some of Australia’s top companies face lower profits as a cocktail of high interest rates, elevated costs and economic uncertainty puts the brakes on strong growth.

Meanwhile, a groundbreaking global digital trade agreement signed over the weekend has the potential to reduce the cost and complexity of international commerce, especially for Australia’s small businesses, industry leaders say.

And a lawsuit brought by former Oil Search executive Ayten Saridas against the now Santos-owned company is edging closer to a settlement following talks between the two parties ahead of a resumption of the court case on Monday.