Japan''s largest oil explorer, Inpex Holdings Inc cast doubt on its Ichthys liquefied natural gas project in Australia after indicating that it is still reviewing the project. Local media in Japan indicated that the project may cost more than earlier estimated.

Perth-based spokesman for the company, Sean Kildare was reported to have said the review meant that Inpex and its partner Total SA were holding back on a decision to start engineering and design work on the project.

Inpex and France''s Total S.A. plan to build two 3.8 million tons annual LNG production units on the Maret Islands off Western Australia. The preliminary cost of the project was put estimated at $10 billion (US$8.8 billion) with deliveries expected to start in 2013.

Centro Properties Group fell for the fourth-straight day by 22.5% after investors ditched the stock over concerns on the viability of the company. The Group was reported to have been questioned by regulators about accounting for its debt.

Centro Chief Executive Officer Andrew Scott has indicated that he wants to sell the group''s 700 malls in the U.S. that were acquired in the past two years after borrowing $9 billion. The asset sales will help the company to refinance $3.9 billion (US$3.4 billion) of debt by the February 15 deadline.

The Australian dollar traded near a four-week high despite it gaining marginally against the U.S. dollar today. At the close the Australian dollar was trading at 88.33 American cents up slightly from yesterday''s close of 88.29 cents. During the day, the dollar traded between a low of US$0.8820 US cents and a high of US$0.8854.

Of the ASX 200 index shares, AED Oil Limited led the gainers with a rise of 6% followed by increases in Minara Resources of 5.9%, in Perilya Limited of 5.8%, in Sally Malay Mini of 5.8%, and in Cabcharge Australia of 5%.

Of the ASX 200 index stocks, Centro Retail Group led the decliners with a fall of 24% followed by losses in Centro Properties of 22.5%, in MFS Limited of 9%, in Murchison Metals of 5.6% and in Mount Gibson Iron of 4.6%.