AAP

BC Iron has placed its shares in a trading halt for the third time in a month ahead of an announcement regarding the availability of finance to suitor Regent Pacific.

Developer Australand Property Group says it expects earnings to grow by "at least" five per cent in 2010/11 and has reaffirmed distribution guidance of 21.5 cents per security.

Shares in lithium miner Galaxy Resources plunged on the Australian stock exchange, following the first phase of a capital raising aimed at securing $120 million.

Mining services provider NRW Holdings is looking for $70 million in new capital through a share placement.

Shares in Leighton Holdings slumped 13 per cent to their lowest in 18 months after it announced earlier in the week a $757 million new share sale and said it would report a full year loss.

OZ Minerals says it expects to achieve forecast gold production targets for the year even though total gold production fell in the March quarter.

The Australian dollar was higher this morning, as traders awaited an interest rate decision from Singapore.

US stocks ticked higher Wednesday after President Barack Obama detailed his plans for cutting the deficit and a Federal Reserve report said the economy is improving at a moderate pace.

Start price set for carbon tax – The West; WA needs extra 33,000 workers – The West; Engineers back work bans – The Aus; ATO wins battle with BHP – The Fin; Desal plant a costly drop over Yarragadee – The West

Santos says it expects to make a final investment decision for its Bonaparte floating liquefied natural gas joint venture in 2014.

The Australian share market pared early losses to close around 0.2 per cent higher, as investors snapped up bank stocks and other cyclicals with attractive dividend yields.

The world's second biggest gold miner Newmont Mining Corporation has taken a 6.7 per cent stake in uranium miner Paladin Energy as a result of the takeover of Canada's Fronteer Gold.

Rio Tinto has blamed floods and cyclones for a worse than expected 16 per cent drop in iron ore production from the record set in the December quarter.

Chevron says it is in talks with other gas producers about using its Wheatstone liquefied natural gas processing hub offshore from Western Australia.

Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia says earnings in 2010/11 will be lower than the prior year, along with lower production and sales.

Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell says it's on track to this year make a final investment decision for the world's first floating liquefied natural gas project, offshore from Western Australia.

The federal government's planned carbon tax does not recognise the abatement credentials of liquefied natural gas and will severely hamper growth in the sector, opposition energy and resources spokesman Ian Macfarlane says.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has outlined a more detailed timeline for implementing a carbon price with Treasury modelling due to be completed mid-year.

African Petroleum Corporation has announced it will raise $250 million from institutions and sophisticated investors in a new share sale as the company aims to become West Africa's biggest independent oil explorer.

Newspaper advertisements for skilled workers rose by 1.7 per cent across Australia in April, but in Western Australia skilled job ads were down 1.5 per cent.

Consumer sentiment has risen at a slower pace in April as overseas turmoil weighed on confidence, a survey shows.

Australian shares were little changed in early trading, as materials and energy stocks fell after commodities including base metals, gold and oil declined overnight.

The Australian dollar was trading lower this morning, as commodity prices drop and investor risk appetite wanes.

Labor to ease the carbon squeeze– The Aus; ASIC raises hurdles on share listings– The Fin; BHP gave me an assurance: Barnett– The Fin; Alcoa trucks in water as drought hits– The West; Nobel winner and Australian of the Year to fight funding cuts– The West

US stocks suffered heavy losses on Tuesday, dragged down by the materials and energy sectors.

The Australian dollar was more than one US cent lower as investors fled to save-haven assets following another aftershock in Japan and more concerns about its nuclear power safety.

Perth company Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd, through a wholly-owned Indonesian subsidiary, has lodged a compensation claim for US$70.9 million against Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation.

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett says he regrets comments made by his police minister about the treatment of homeless people in Perth during the commonwealth summit in October.

The Australian share market has closed sharply lower, pulled back by profit-taking on mining and energy stocks, amid fresh concerns about US growth prospects and the nuclear drama in Japan.

Leighton Holdings is having its credit rating reviewed by a second credit ratings agency a day after it forecast the first full-year loss in 25 years.

Treasurer Wayne Swan jets off to the US today for the G20 Finance Ministers' meeting in Washington, a trip he says will provide valuable insights as he prepares his May 10 budget.

The federal government should outline emissions reduction targets soon to give the business community certainty, a legal expert says.