AAP

The popularity of online shopping has continued its surge among Australians, with online retail sales growing 27 per cent in the year to November 2012.

The corporate watchdog will investigate if any laws were broken when Whitehaven Coal lost more than $276 million in market value after falling victim to a hoax media release.

Australian stocks finished slightly lower as weakness among the major resources companies outweighed optimism in the US.

Australian stocks were slightly higher at noon after positive US economic data led to investor optimism.

 Rare earths miner Lynas expects to be producing finished products from its controversial plant in Malaysia within weeks.

The Australian dollar is a third of a US cent higher after encouraging jobs data from the United States pushed world markets higher.

US stocks closed higher on Friday, with the S&P 500 hitting its highest level in five years, helped by a steady December jobs report and a surprise improvement in a key index for the service se

Macmahon Holdings says an existing agreement to sell its construction operations to Leighton Holdings means it is unable to let an Indian-based bidder conduct due diligence on the assets.

The Australian dollar has fallen to its lowest level in two weeks on concerns about US debt, after a plan to raise taxes for millionaires divided Republicans in Congress.

Treasurer Troy Buswell says his legal team is assessing an offer to settle court action between himself and his former lover, independent MP Adele Carles.

The builder of the $37 billion high-speed National Broadband Network (NBN) says it is working feverishly to meet its most recent construction targets.

The federal coalition appears to be backing away from its pledge to deliver a budget surplus in every year of its first term in office.

The Australian share market closed lower as investors sold off stocks amid worries about US fiscal cliff negotiations.

Fast-food chain Hungry Jack's has been fined $75,000 for selling food that contained a piece of metal.

Clean Seas Tuna is fighting for survival after failing to find a desperately needed partner for its troubled yellowtail kingfish business.

More than two million passengers are expected to pass through the international and domestic terminals at Perth Airport between December and January.

Women may rule in Australia but for some it's been tough at the top in 2012.

Federal budget cuts to single parents, foreign aid and universities should be reversed in light of an abandoned surplus, the Greens say.

It was a boom that would seemingly go on forever.

The frontrunner for Western Australia's first uranium mine says a delay in the federal environmental assessment process won't affect the proposed project schedule - for now.

Truck drivers are warning of a campaign of civil disobedience against Coles in 2013 as they continue their fight for a safer working environment.

The cost of so-called "poles and wires" utility infrastructure has been the biggest driver of electricity prices over the past five years, the Australian Energy Regulator has confirmed.

Ratings agency Moody's has downgraded its outlook for Western Australia's AAA credit rating to negative from stable because of the state's mounting debt.

Mining services company Boart Longyear says it will continue to look for cost savings after implementing cuts that resulted in 2,500 job losses.

The Australian share market hit new 17-month highs after opening slightly higher this morning.

Treasurer Wayne Swan has accused the opposition of twisting the facts about the economy as he continues to defend Labor's decision to drop its budget surplus.

US stocks swung higher on Thursday as the market appeared to show optimism about a potential deal in Washington to prevent the economy from going over the so-called fiscal cliff.

Australia's ability to repay its debt will be unaffected by the government's admission it's unlikely to deliver a budget surplus this financial year, a global ratings agency says.

Billabong's chief financial officer Craig White has left the troubled surfwear retailer.

The Australian dollar has finished the local session below 105 US cents for the first time in more than a week as the currency loses some of its safe-haven lustre.

A building products manufacturer has been fined $45,000 after a supervisor had two fingers severed by a flywheel press.

A $30,000 fine imposed on Kentucky Fried Chicken for illegally employing children to work later than 10pm at three of its Perth outlets is not enough, an affiliation of 40 unions says.