Aust stocks close flat

The Australian stock market closed flat as investors waited for news on a resolution of the United States government shutdown.

At the 1615 AEST official market close the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index inched up 0.17% to 5,215.6 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index edged up 0.17%to 5,214.9 points.

IG analyst Chris Weston said the US budget impasse is no closer to a resolution.

"It was interesting to see a number of House Republicans favouring a ‘clean’ short-term spending bill (i.e. without cutting funding for Obamacare)," Mr Weston said.

"Although, this was later contradicted to a degree by talk that House Republicans could look at bills funding individual programmes."