Z Energy is on track to beat its pre-float prospectus earnings forecasts and is rated a “buy” up to $4.21 a share, says Deutsche Bank, a lead manager in the mid-August Z listing whose research is now public after a statutory “black-out” period. Z shares closed yesterday at $3.81, compared with the issue price at listing on Aug 19 of …

AWF Group, New Zealand’s largest provider of temporary staff, has agreed to buy Madison Group for as much as $36 million to expand into the recruitment of professional workers from its core business of recruiting labourers. Madison Group had sales of more than $56 million in the year ended March 31, compared with AWF’s revenues of $131 million. AWF expects …

The New Zealand dollar weakened on the expectation the US government’s failure to reach agreement on its budget, partially shutting down government services, will only be temporary. The kiwi slipped to 82.66 US cents at 8am in Wellington from 83.05 cents at the 5pm market close yesterday. The trade-weighted index dropped to 76.81 from 77.32 yesterday. Investors are betting fallout …

Stocks gained, while US Treasuries and gold fell, amid expectations that the US government’s partial shutdown over lawmakers’ failure to agree on a federal budget will be short-lived and the impact on the economy limited. In late afternoon trading in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.40 percent, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed 0.76 percent, and …

Prices of dairy products rose in the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction, paced by whole and skim milk powder, the biggest products by volume, while overall volumes stabilised. The GDT Price Index, previously known as the GDT-TWI Price Index, rose 2.4 percent compared to the last sale two weeks ago. The average winning price was US$4,980 a tonne compared to US$4,880 a …

The New Zealand share market mirrored mixed fortunes across Asian markets as traders watched for the deadline to pass for resolution of the US budget impasse. The NZX50 Index was square, if slightly positive on the day, up 7.485 points, or 0.16 percent to 4,743.872, despite more stocks recording share price falls than rises. Within the index, 19 stocks rose, …

The New Zealand dollar held its gains against the greenback on speculation a prolonged US government shutdown and an more weighty debate about the debt ceiling this month will sap demand for US dollars. The kiwi traded at 83.04 US cents at 5pm in Wellington, holding its gains through the day from 82.84 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index was …

Martyn Dunne, New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Australia and a former head of the Customs Service and senior military officer, has been named head of the Ministry for Primary Industries. Dunne will take up the three-year term on Nov 18, replacing Scott Gallacher, who has been acting director-general of MPI since the departure of former head Wayne McNee for a …

A second former director of Gisborne-based Rockforte Finance has pleaded guilty to Crimes Act charges laid by the Serious Fraud Office, while a third awaits trial. John Gardner pleaded guilty to five charges in the Gisborne High Court today, the Serious Fraud Office said in a statement. The charges relate to theft by a person in a special relationship, obtaining …

Banks that lent unsustainable amounts of debt to state-owned coal miner Solid Energy are taking a $75 million “hair-cut”, dressed up as an issue of redeemable preference shares that may never be repaid. After eight months of negotiations between the Treasury and the group of Australasian and Japanese lenders to the troubled coal company, Finance and State-Owned Enterprises Ministers Bill …