AAP

Nearly a third of voters believe the federal government's controversial mining tax should be amended to raise more money rather than being dumped altogether, a new survey has found.

The Australian dollar has dropped to an eight-month low as heavy falls on local and Chinese share markets weighed on the currency.

Rio Tinto expects iron ore prices will fall 50 per cent from current levels to around per tonne over the next 18 months.

Company profits fell for the fifth consecutive quarter and will weigh on Australia's economic growth and put further pressure on the federal budget.

Online sales growth accelerated in January after the pace slackened off in December, as post-Christmas discounts encouraged shoppers to reach for their credit cards.

The Australian share market finished sharply weaker, dragged down by resources stocks that went ex-dividend including mining heavyweight BHP Billiton.

The new chief executive at driller Boart Longyear, Richard O'Brien, will take a pay cut of about one-third.

A French company will launch two satellites to deliver faster broadband speeds to parts of outback Australia that can't access the land-based National Broadband Network.

The housing construction sector started 2013 on the back foot and is showing no sign of the pick-up the Reserve Bank of Australia wants for the industry.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard says further changes to the 457 visa scheme will get the "out of control" system back on track.

Job advertisements rose in February to their highest level since October 2012, a leading employment survey says.

A rise in iron ore and coal exports is expected to have been the major driver of economic growth in an otherwise weak final three months of 2012.

Miner Lynas Corporation will have a new chief executive from April as it ramps up its production of rare earths products.

The Australian share market has opened lower in a market affected by large stocks going ex-dividend.

The number of companies that posted a profit during the recently concluded reporting season rose to its highest level in three years.

On the last Sunday before the state election, the Liberals and Labor were making promises to families, seniors, people with disabilities and children.

Boral is merging its construction materials and cement divisions into one business, resulting in the departure of long-serving manager Murray Read.

High-profile businessman James Strong has been remembered as a modern renaissance man with a presence across business, sports and the arts.

Western Australia's relationship with Asia is 20 years ahead of the rest of the country, Premier Colin Barnett says.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average moved closer to an all-time high last week, as improving economic sentiment overrode concerns about looming government spending cuts.

There are signs of life and glimmers of hope in the market after a reporting season that beat expectations - albeit only slightly - and promised better things to come.

The Australian dollar is almost half a US cent lower after Chinese economic data showed its manufacturing sector is expanding at a slower pace.

The credibility of Liberal and Labor election promises are both under question, with Troy Buswell admitting the Liberals three major pledges are reliant on being half funded by the Commonwealth, an

Australia's export commodity prices rose for the fourth consecutive month in February, Reserve Bank of Australia figures show.

The Australian sharemarket closed almost half a per cent lower as the major resources companies dragged the index down.

Most homeowners won't be surprised if the central bank leaves the cash rate unchanged after next Tuesday's monthly board meeting.

The trial of high-profile bikie Troy Mercanti is one of the court cases disrupted by a prison officers' strike.

Leighton Holdings has sold a major office tower development in Melbourne to two property groups for $462 million.

Thousands of angry unionists knocked on Premier Colin Barnett's office door to voice their frustration at overseas recruitment yesterday - only to find he was out campaigning thousands of kilometre

Besieged Network Ten has recruited the man behind the Seven Network's morning show sensations, to fight its way back in the ratings.

The Australian share market has opened more than three quarters of a per cent lower, driven down by falls in the resources sector after a last minute sell-off in the US.