Aust stocks open flat

The Australian stock market opened flat after falls on international markets despite better-than-expected United States retail figures.

At the 1015 AEDT official market open, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index edged down 0.18% to 5,298 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index  dropped 0.2% to 5,294.2.

In economic news on Thursday, Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens is slated to give a speech called The Australian Dollar: Thirty Years of Floating at the Australian Business Economists (ABE) Annual Dinner.

In equities news, BHP Billiton, Sonic Healthcare, Goodman Group, Paladin Energy and Ausdrill have annual general meetings scheduled.

In Australia, the market on Wednesday closed lower for the third straight day as investors reacted to negative comments from the head of the US central bank.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index dropped 45.2 points, or 0.84%, to 5,307.7.

The broader All Ordinaries index shed 43.2 points, or 0.81%, to 5,304.6.