AAP

The Australian dollar has receded from its overnight gains but could move past the 104 US cent mark heading into the weekend. 

Major retailers such as Coles are to blame for national trucking firm 1st Fleet going into administration, the transport union says.

Finance Minister Penny Wong says returning the budget to surplus is more than just an accounting exercise, it is good economic management for the future.

Shares in industrial services company Spotless have been suspended from trading pending an announcement about its takeover talks with a private equity firm.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has welcomed a Federal Court decision to prevent Optus customers from recording and watching football matches on delay.

The Australian Greens are maintaining pressure on the federal government to scrap the diesel fuel rebate for miners in the upcoming budget.

Atlas Iron says it remains on track to meet its full year production target of 5.5 million to 5.7 million tonnes (Mt).

The Australian share market has opened slightly higher as investors remain cautious about a weakening consumer environment.

Australian house prices made modest gains in the first three months of the year but were still negative over the 12 months to March 31, a report by an online real estate data group says.

US stocks have risen despite a series of uneven data and corporate earnings reports that included a big disappointment from oil giant ExxonMobil.

The Australian share market gave up earlier gains to finish slightly higher following a positive lead from Wall Street.

OZ Minerals lifted its production of gold and copper in the first three months of the year but costs were higher because of heavy rains.

House prices in Western Australia's booming Pilbara region are continuing to outpace major capital cities, with recent sales fetching $300,000 more than the Sydney median.

Millions of dollars in sports broadcast rights will be at stake when a judgment is made in a legal battle between Optus and the nation's two biggest football codes tomorrow.

The Federal Court has imposed the maximum civil penalty of $242,000 on a company that lost a worker in the Pilbara in 2009.

Job advertisements on the internet rose by 2.6 per cent in March compared to a month earlier, federal data shows.

Australia's commercial property sector continued to move downwards in the first three months of the year, a survey shows.

Television stocks have been punished as ongoing weakness in advertising markets frightens investors after Seven West Media cut its earnings forecasts.

The Australian share market has opened well over half a per cent higher, buoyed by optimism on overseas markets.

The Australian dollar is three quarters of a US cent higher, driven by a strong rise in US stocks helped by a big boost in earnings for technology giant Apple.

Blockbuster profits from Apple and a solid showing by Boeing have pumped up US markets, with a late boost coming from a slightly improved growth outlook from the Federal Reserve.

The federal government wants to discourage people taking out high-cost, small-amount "payday loans".

The Australian share market had a flat day with falls in overseas markets overnight offset by heightened expectations of an interest rate cut.

Virgin Australia will step up its chase for a larger slice of business travellers and has signalled its intention to one day expand its international flying, with the arrival of two factory-fresh A

Africa-focused uranium miner Paladin Energy says it has significantly strengthened its balance sheet after a convertible bond issue that raised $US274 million ($A266.5 million) from investors.

Treasurer Wayne Swan insists Peter Slipper's decision to stand down as Speaker won't impact on the federal government's ability to deliver a tough budget.

Premier Colin Barnett says an interim report on the way GST revenues are distributed recognises the system is "broken" and has been unfair to Western Australia.

The Australian dollar fell half of one US cent after the release of weaker than expected inflation data this morning.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has the room it needs to cut interest rates in May following the release of weaker than expected inflation data, economists say.

The Australian share market has opened slightly lower, following the overnight lead of the US and European markets.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Australia's economy remains strong, as inflation data due for release on Tuesday could trigger an interest rate cut next week.

Wesfarmers says Coles sales has risen almost five per cent in the third quarter but tough trading conditions led to a 4.4 per cent fall in Target sales.