AAP

Virgin Australia will have to wait until June for final approval of its proposed partnership with Delta Air Lines on trans-Pacific routes after the US government extended the comment period by a week.

The Australian stock market has opened slightly lower, after a relatively soft lead from Wall Street, with investors taking profits made earlier in the week.

The Australian dollar was almost half a US cent higher after news of an planned influx of Chinese investment into New Zealand improved market sentiment.

Miners plan $90 billion project spree – The Fin; Barnett's Derby gas base plan in doubt – The West; Swan adamant in royalties row – The Fin; Threat of carbon tax blackouts – The Aus; Blakiston falls to east coast suitor – The West

US stocks ended higher on Thursday after a morning slump, with Nasdaq tech stocks outperforming while the Dow's blue chips gave a feeble showing.

Caltex Australia refiner margins continued to contract in April, as the price of crude oil rose on tight supply after the Japanese earthquake and Libyan conflict.

West Australian Health Minister Kim Hames says he will investigate whether health department staff acted appropriately in accepting expensive gifts and overseas trips from pharmaceutical companies.

As the multi-party climate change committee gets down to the serious business of setting a carbon price, bookies suggest it will be under $25 a tonne.

West Australian Energy Minister Peter Collier has thrown his support behind a national solar feed-in tariff.

The Australian stock market posted gains of 1.6 per cent to end a four-day losing streak, led higher by gold, energy and materials after a bounce on commodity markets overnight.

The largest harvest in the history of grain handler and marketer GrainCorp has led to a record half year net profit and upgrade in annual guidance.

Six trial flights and countless hours of training and preparation have concluded with the successful launch of Virgin Australia's inaugural Airbus A330 flight from Sydney to Perth.

Native title interests have been recognised across 65 per cent of the Kimberley following a court ruling on a claim in the Buccaneer Archipelago, the Kimberley Land Council says.

Iron Ore Holdings says it has started a formal review of its projects and prospects 100 km north-west of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The West Australian opposition has accused Premier Colin Barnett of acting like the French King Louis XV over the relocation of his office.

Private business investment remains in an upswing that's set to steepen over the coming year or so.

Pay-TV provider Foxtel has made a bid for Austar United Communications, valuing the target company at $1.93 billion.

The commodity prices boom fuelling Australia's economy is being driven by a strengthening global economy and is likely to continue for some time, a central bank official says.

Fortescue Metals Group says it will not proceed with a proposed $US1 billion credit facility due to weakness in credit markets, but this would not affect the miner's plans to expand production capacity.

The Australian stock market opened firmer, after Wall Street ended a three-day losing streak to close moderately higher.

US stocks closed higher on Wednesday for the first day this week as rising oil prices offset worries about the global economic recovery.

The Australian dollar was higher this morning, recovering losses from Wednesday sparked by deepening fear over Greek debt.

Business warns on Greens offer – The Fin; ExxonMobil fires salvo at Woodside over gas talks – The West; Macquarie in stoush with taxman – The Fin; Don't penalise WA: Hockey – The Fin; WA's small business sector gaining confidence – The West

Stevedoring company Patrick has warned an industrial dispute with Maritime Union of Australia port workers may last a full seven days if negotiations don't resume soon.

GE Capital Australia and New Zealand has exited the local home lending market after selling $5 billion of mortgages to low-doc mortgage lender Pepper Australia.

Australian stocks have closed lower for the fourth straight session as offshore worries prompted broad based selling on the local bourse.

Westfield Group says it is confident of strong performance across its portfolio this calendar year and that the mixed economic situation in Australia should improve.

Telstra chief financial officer John Stanhope says the telco is on track to meet guidance for the 2011 fiscal year and that momentum heading into fiscal 2012 is positive.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan gave assurances to the West Australian government it would not be punished if it removed concessions on royalty rates for iron ore, Premier Colin Barnett says.

Gina Rinehart has become the first woman to top the BRW rich list, with the iron ore magnate's fortune doubling over the past year to $10.3 billion.

Major players in Australia's aviation industry have backed a report recommending a shift to biofuels to offset a possible carbon price and the rising cost of oil.

Mineral sands producer Iluka Resources says it plans to boost production of zircon and high grade titanium ore after achieving price increases in the first half of calendar 2011.