AAP

The High Court of Malaysia has knocked back a request to review the recent decision to grant the rare earths miner Lynas Corporation a a temporary licence for a processing plant.

The Australian dollar has risen almost one US cent following the release of stronger than expected domestic jobs data.

The Australian share market has closed higher after gains on overseas markets and stronger than expected job figures domestically.

 Ten Network Holdings is forecasting a more stable advertising market as it pins its hopes on a suite of new shows to secure more eyeballs and improve earnings.

Premier Colin Barnett has conceded new Labor Opposition Leader Mark McGowan has received a bigger lift in the polls than he anticipated, predicting a tight election next year.

Services company Spotless will voluntarily audit the records of about 1500 of its employees to ensure they are being paid properly.

Negotiations between ports operator Asciano and the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) have hit a dead end.

Seven Group's heavy machinery company has bought the local arm of US parts and services business Bucyrus for $US400 million ($A389.39 million).

Mining billionaire Clive Palmer, who has savaged the federal government's mining tax, reportedly did not have to pay tax in his main private company last year.

Alcoa says two of its alumina refineries in Western Australia have achieved record production and remain among its lowest-cost plants globally.

Australian stocks have closed down one per cent as the big miners and other resources-linked companies led the broader market lower.

Shares in Flinders Mines were sold off when its trading halt was lifted, after court action continued to hold up the iron ore explorer's $554 million takeover by a Russian steel maker.

New rules making it easier for Australian firms to tender for contracts offered by resource and construction companies will help share the benefits of the mining boom, the federal government says.

Mining giant BHP Billiton is sinking its teeth into the Gulf of Mexico's Mad Dog oil field, committing $US708 million ($A692.73 million) on work for the second phase of the project.

 New rules to get more Australian companies involved in major private and public sector projects will come into force on July 1.

 The prospect of an interest rate cut in May has firmed after official figures suggested a further slowing in the housing sector.

Opposition Leader Mark McGowan says Labor remains the underdog, despite a significant spike in support shown in the latest Newspoll.

One of the world's healthiest marine environments will be threatened by a major oil and gas drilling program just 10km off Western Australia's pristine Rowley Shoals, conservationists say.

 The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) is warning a high Australian dollar and interest rates are pushing the local steel manufacturing industry to the "brink of collapse".

Australian stocks have opened lower as local market players took their cues from a poor night on Wall Street.

Two lobby groups are at odds over legal advice suggesting the Gillard government's carbon tax could be unconstitutional.

Shares in Alumina Ltd eased after the miner's joint venture partner Alcoa said it would slash alumina production capacity to avoid adding to oversupply in the Atlantic region.

The Australian share market closed lower after a rise in domestic job advertisements for the third straight month failed to offset disappointing US employment figures.

Law firm Slater & Gordon is considering launching a class action on behalf of some former Bankwest customers over the Commonwealth Bank's takeover of the Perth-based lender.

Business confidence has improved but still remains below its long-term average because of concerns about a more pronounced slowing among emerging economies.

Australian construction remained weak in March, although the pace of decline has slowed, an industry study shows.

Premier Colin Barnett has fired a shot across Canberra's bow ahead of the Council of Australian Governments meeting, saying the balance of power now lies with the states.

Australia and China will work more closely on building infrastructure in each country under a new agreement.

The Western Australian branch of the Health Services Union says it may break away from the national body because of the damage being done to the brand by ongoing controversies.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he believes the only way the federal government will return the budget to surplus is by "fiddling the books".

Job advertisements rose for a third consecutive month, in a sign that hiring intentions by businesses are continuing to improve, a private survey shows.

The competition watchdog has given the green light to Foxtel's $2 billion takeover of Austar, but slapped strict controls on the suitor to help protect emerging internet tv services.