AAP

US stocks closed a choppy day of trading higher after Japan's monetary stimulus plan boosted sentiment.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 55.76 (0.38 per cent) to 14,606.11.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has touted Australia's friendship with China on the eve of her visit to the regional powerhouse, saying only Labor has a plan to engage with fast growing Asian markets.

The Australian dollar is slightly lower against its US counterpart following news of fresh stimulus measures in Japan.

The Australian share market finished almost one per cent lower due to weaker offshore leads and lower commodity prices.

Opposition leader Tony Abbott has indicated a federal coalition government would not invest in state urban rail projects, insisting the Commonwealth should “stick to its knitting” of funding roads.

Better technology allows almost three out of five small businesses to have employees working away from the office, a survey says.

Hundreds of jobs at Shell's Geelong refinery face the axe if the company can't find a buyer to keep the plant open, a union says.

The competition watchdog isn't satisfied with the national broadband network builder's plan governing wholesale broadband pricing and access to its infrastructure.

Australian grape farmers are being left to wither on the vine by supermarkets that refuse to pay them a fair price, the industry says.

Uranium concentrate from a new Western Australian mine will likely be shipped through two other states.

Shares in troubled retailer Billabong have been suspended indefinitely so it can continue takeover talks with two potential suitors.

Australian stocks have opened weaker, with mining companies posting the largest falls amid broad based declines.

A rout across precious metals markets on Wednesday pushed gold futures to a nine-month low and left platinum at its lowest price so far this year.

US stocks dropped on Wednesday after weak economic indicators halted the market's upward momentum of recent weeks.

Qantas is targeting China-bound business passengers as it expands its codeshare agreement with China Eastern Airlines.

Sundance Resources is likely to end its takeover talks with Hanlong Mining and look for another Chinese suitor.

The trucking industry wants to stay protected from the carbon tax beyond 2014.

The Australian share market has closed about 0.6 per cent lower amid mixed economic data.

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has already begun planning with Premier Colin Barnett on potential changes to GST distribution.

Woodside Petroleum's $40 billion Browse gas project could be delayed by up to a decade if it does not come to a final investment decision by June.

Glenn Stevens will continue to serve as central bank governor until 2016 following his reappointment by Treasurer Wayne Swan today.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is not worried about the latest mining industry campaign against government tax plans.

Australia's trade deficit has shrunk by more than $1 billion and demand for its mineral resources is set to increase as China's manufacturing and services sectors continue to expand.

The head of Australian oil and gas producer Santos has rejected claims one of its major Queensland coal seam gas projects wasn't subjected to a rigorous approval process.

Revenue from the federal government's controversial mining tax is likely to remain modest unless there is a sizeable spike in coal and iron ore prices.

Australian stocks have opened firmer, with the big retail banks among the better performers on a day of broad-based gains.

ExxonMobil has submitted plans for a large floating LNG project in Western Australia's Scarborough gas field that it hopes to exploit with BHP Billiton.

US stocks have pushed to new record highs, bolstered by solid US manufacturing orders and strong results from US carmakers.

It is time for the big retail banks to step up to the plate and cut their lending rates after the central bank left monetary policy unchanged, an industry group says.

The Australian dollar drifted higher during the local session, helped by a weaker US counterpart and the central bank's decision to keep the cash rate on hold.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has homed in on divisions within federal Labor over possible superannuation changes in the May budget.