Ratings agency Moody's says a huge spending splash planned by Australian resources companies could lead to cost over-runs because of increasingly scare labour and other supply constraints.

Australia has paved the way to sell uranium to Russia, brushing aside concerns about nuclear spills and military ramifications.

The Australian dollar closed higher on Thursday, breaking through the $US0.9200 mark after a fresh bout of US dollar weakness during the offshore session.

Foxtel chief executive Kim Williams has criticised the ABC, targeting its proposed new 24-hour news channel and its chairing of Freeview.

A former Macquarie banker was running from allegations of wrongdoing by ASIC when he tried to flee Australia earlier this month, a court has found.

Stocks of interest on the Australian Stock Exchange at the close of trade.

Australian shares closed marginally higher as investors sought defensive stocks, and the bourse rose back into the black in the final minutes of trade.

Queensland will boast Australia's first plant to convert coal seam gas to liquefied natural gas in a bid to dramatically cut the trucking industry's carbon emissions.

Across Asia, regional indices are all weaker after inconclusive direction from Wall Street, with higher metal prices and positive reads on the US service sector being offset by Washington rhetoric about reforms to the healthcare and financial sectors

OZ Minerals says early work at its Cambodian gold project has found an inferred resource of 605,000 ounces, spurring it to continue more exploration there.

More than 100 Sydney workers are set to lose their jobs as an international car parts manufacturer sends its operations offshore.

A list of companies to record a change in substantial shareholdings.

A quarterly pricing system for metallurgical coal looks more likely to be adopted permanently after Macarthur Coal said it would use short-term pricing.

The Queensland economy is making a sustainable recovery, with mining development crucial to growth, Treasurer Andrew Fraser says.

Pay-TV operators say new free-to-air digital channels will be more of a help than a hindrance in the growth of subscription television.

Internet service provider iiNet says it is confident it will succeed in defending an appeal in its legal stoush over illegal downloading.

Phosphate miner Minemakers Ltd plans to list in May on the stock exchange of Namibia, where it has marine phosphate projects.

Leighton Holdings Ltd says Craig Laslett has been appointed managing director of Leighton Contractors, effective from September.

Virgin Mobile Australia will pay the media watchdog $22,000 after it sent email promotions to people who had opted out of receiving marketing material.

The Australian dollar was higher at noon after finding support from a firm Australian equity market and strong commodity prices.

The Australian share market was moved into the red at noon on losses in the materials sector.

Stocks of interest on the Australian stock exchange at noon.

Australia is positioned enviably in the global economy but growing ties to China also expose it to risks, a US-based economist says.

Drug maker Sigma Pharmaceuticals may not pay a dividend in the second half of its fiscal year and is renegotiating the terms of its banking covenants.

Japan's Toho Zinc Co Ltd has been given backing to more than double its stake in CBH Resources Ltd.

BHP Billiton Ltd is cautious about the state of the world economy and is warning governments to be careful about tax changes and winding back stimulus packages.

The US may be barking up the wrong tree by trying to force China to revalue its currency as it could fuel a rise in prices of favourite American products such as the iPhone and even plunge the Asian giant into social unrest, some analysts warned on W

Recently-listed Kathmandu Holdings is among retailers flagging a potential slowdown in the second half, due to the fading impact of government stimulus.

The World Bank raised its China growth forecast this year to 9.5 per cent from nine per cent on Wednesday but said Beijing needs to cool inflation.

Blockbuster shares plunged nearly 30 per cent on Wednesday after the heavily indebted movie rental chain said it may be forced to declare bankruptcy.