All eyes are firmly fixed on US Federal Reserve policymakers as they gather for their final meeting of 2013 during which some believe they will decide to start scaling back their US$85 billion a month bond-buying program. As the US unemployment rate dropped to a five-year low of 7 percent in November, and third-quarter GDP accelerated more than expected to …

New Talisman Gold Mines announced today that is has signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with St Albans Pty Ltd, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) set up by a Chinese investor group (the Investor), which contemplates the investment of NZ$10.9m to fund the Talisman Mine development project, subject to completion of satisfactory due diligence, entering into definitive binding agreements and …

New Zealand consumer confidence was near a four-year high in the lead-up to the Christmas season, an all-important period for retailers. The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index increased 1 point to 129.4 in December, the highest level since January 2010. Seasonally adjusted, the measure was at its highest level since February 2007. A net 39 percent of 1,063 people surveyed …

he government is ploughing ahead with proposals that would continue to shield deep-sea oil explorers from public scrutiny of their plans to drill exploration wells in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone. college essay writing services Environment Minister Amy Adams has released draft regulations governing the EEZ to replace the transitional arrangements which are currently in place, and which saw Texan …

Shares in Chorus climbed 8 percent in early trading after Milford Asset Management yesterday said the regulatory uncertainty hanging over the network operator was fully priced in, and the investment arm of the Accident Compensation Corp lifted its holding in the telecommunications company. The stock rose as high as $1.50, and recently traded at $1.48, up 11 cents from yesterday, …

New Zealand manufacturing activity expanded in November, with high orders and lean inventory suggesting the pick-up in production will continue. The BNZ-BusinessNZ seasonally adjusted PMI rose to 56.7 in November from 55.9 in October and 50.2 in November last year. A reading above 50 signals expansion. The manufacturing sector has been in expansion for 14 consecutive months, with the PMI …

The New Zealand dollar touched a new five-year high against the Australian dollar after Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens talked down the value of his currency on the same day the New Zealand central bank said local rates were heading higher. The kiwi touched 92.46 Australian cents early this morning, and was trading at 92.23 cents at 8am …

Wall Street continued its slide even after American retail sales rose more than expected as the data fuelled talk that the US Federal Reserve will soon begin to taper its monthly bond-buying programme. Just days away from the next Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Dec. 17 and 18, US consumers appear more confident than forecast. Retail sales climbed 0.7 …

New Zealand shares were mixed as network operator Chorus extended its rebound from a record low and clothing chain Hallenstein Glasson Holdings said it may have to cut guidance. The NZX 50 rose 3.894 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4708.198. Within the index, 16 stocks rose, 23 fell and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was $168 million. Chorus rose 3 percent …

Slingshot, the telecommunications and broadband provider, has been fined $250,000 after pleading guilty to forcing customers unwittingly to take its service and then aggressively pursuing them for payment and referring some to debt collection agencies when they refused. Competitor and industry major Telecom expressed delight at the result, which followed a guilty plea by Call Plus Services, trading as Slingshot, …