Stocks of interest on the Australian Securities Exchange on Wednesday

US stocks have closed with modest gains after newly released minutes raised hopes that the Fed would act to boost the ailing economy.

Conciliation talks between Qantas and long-haul pilots over a pay and conditions dispute will continue next month.

A former CEO of Centro has been fined $30,000 and a former chief financial officer banned for two years for breaching corporate law.

Investment by Australian miners and exploration companies in Africa has surged to $US20 billion and more is in the pipeline.

Australian stocks pared back earlier gains to close marginally stronger as investors awaited firmer direction from offshore.