Little more than a day after coal shipments recommenced on part of Queensland's extensive coal railway network, flooding forced the shutdown of operations on the Blackwater coal rail system.

Stocks in the US and around the world ended a strong first quarter with a whimper amid political and economic uncertainty.

While shorting had long been a reality of how sophisticated investors play the market in Australia, it has of late turned brasher, louder, and far more aggressive.

Oil prices fell after another rise in the US rig count signalled yet a higher hurdle in efforts to pare the global glut.

Some of China's ports are demolishing old buildings to create more storage space, trading sources said.

Credit Suisse faces a sweeping tax evasion and money laundering investigation spanning five countries including Australia.