Christchurch International Airport, which is 75 percent owned by the city council, more than doubled full-year profit and lifted dividends for the year, including a special payment from proceeds of a property sale. Net profit rose to $37.8 million in the 12 months ended June 30, from $15.7 million a year earlier, the company said in a statement. Operating revenue rose …

Diligent Corp, the governance software developer, appointed a permanent chief financial officer as it recovers from a string of errors in filing its financial statements. Michael Stanton will today take over as CFO from interim CFO and corporate controller Alex Sanchez, who will continue as vice president and chief accounting officer, the New York-based, New Zealand-listed company said in a …

Shares on both sides of the Atlantic moved higher, triggered in part by a late surge in Chinese equities, amid optimism China’s government will act to support its flagging economy. In New York trading at about 2.45pm, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 2.3 percent, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed 2.1 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added …

The New Zealand dollar rose ahead of the Reserve Bank’s statement on Thursday and after an Australian survey showed improving business conditions even while business confidence fell, giving traders more confidence economic growth across the Tasman won’t collapse. The kiwi rose to 62.76 US cents as at 5pm in Wellington, from 62.67 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index was little changed at 68.49 from 68.54 …

The Serious Fraud Office has laid Crimes Act charges against Victor John Clarke, a former director of failed media company MediaWeb, in the Auckland District Court for alleged offending involving $2.2 million. The two false accounting charges including using a forged document and obtaining by deception in his role as overseeing the accounting and financial aspects of the failed business. …

Kim Dotcom and his fellow Megaupload co-accused have again sought to delay their extradition fight with the US, claiming natural justice has been denied as they’re unable to pay for expert witnesses outside New Zealand. In the Court of Appeal Justices John Wild, John Fogarty and Jillian Mallon reserved their decision, while Justice Wild said they were “presented with an impossible task” given the size of the submissions …

Smartpay Holdings, the listed payment terminal supplier, expects earnings to decline for a second year as it rebuilds its Australian taxi business after losing a key customer. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation will probably decline to between $8 million to $8.5 million in the current financial year, from $9.2 million in the year ended March 30, the company said …

New Zealand’s government has commenced the biggest review of the telecommunications and broadcasting markets since the advent of the internet with today’s release by Communications and Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams of a discussion paper for public submissions. “Regulating Telecommunications for the Future” kicks off a full review of the Telecommunications Act 2001 to reflect the fact that current regulations were created in an …

New Zealand manufacturing sales volumes fell in the second quarter, driven by the continued decline in petroleum and coal, and in meat and dairy. Total seasonally adjusted sales volumes declined 0.2 percent in the three months ended June 30, following a 0.3 percent drop in the first quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. The volume of dairy and meat, the nation’s two …

European equities moved higher amid relief that Chinese stocks losses were contained, fuelling optimism that a slowdown in global economic growth will be checked. Europe’s Stoxx 600 Index finished the day with a 1.1 percent gain from the previous close. The UK’s FTSE 100 Index added 0.5 percent, France’s CAC 40 Index rose 0.6 percent and Germany’s DAX Index climbed …