The New Zealand dollar looks likely to fall this week as investors consider how local inflation and housing figures will feed into the Reserve Bank’s interest rate outlook, ahead of next week’s policy review. The local currency may trade between 81.20 US cents and 84.20 cents this week, according to a BusinessDesk survey of six traders and strategists. Four predict …

New Zealand confidence rose in the final quarter of 2013 to its second highest reading in the last two years, but optimism about wage growth slumped to its lowest in 18 months. The Westpac McDermott Milller Employment Confidence Index rose to 103.4 in the fourth quarter from 102.8 from the prior quarter, in the scale where 100 separates optimists from …

The New Zealand dollar fell as fears over China’s financial sector re-emerged on reports a troubled trust product won’t be bailed out, ahead of economic data which is expected to show the world’s second-biggest economy is still growing, albeit at a slower pace. The kiwi fell to 82.46 US cents at 8am from 82.62 cents at the close of trading …

The New Zealand dollar climbed to a new eight-year high against its trans-Tasman counterpart after weak Australian jobs data highlighted the divergent interest rate outlooks between the neighbouring economies. The kiwi rose as high as 94.80 Australian cents, trading at 94.72 cents at 8am from 94.45 cents yesterday. The local currency increased to 83.44 US cents from 83.29 cents yesterday. …

Wall Street slid as US companies including Best Buy and Citigroup reported results that fell short of expectations, fuelling concern some valuations are not justified by the outlook. In afternoon trading in New York today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.43 percent, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.24 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index edged 0.04 percent …

New Zealand shares rose to a two-month high, paced by Chorus, Kathmandu and Sky Network Television as the prospects of strong economic growth drew retail investors to the equity market. Hallenstein Glasson Holdings tumbled after posting weak December sales. The NZX 50 Index advanced 8.256 points, or about 0.2 percent, to 4921.290, the highest since Nov. 15. Within the index, …

Xero, whose shares soared 333 percent in 2013, has put down a rising share price to positive press, a growing brand in the US and high volatility from being closely held after getting a ‘please explain’ notice from the stock market regulator. The share market supervisor questioned a 42 percent gain in the Xero share price from Dec. 5 to …

New Zealand Oil & Gas, which has interests in the Tui and Kupe fields, said the recent slide in its share price may reflect its report this week that no significant gas or oil shows were found at its Matuku well near Taranaki. The stock fell further after a trading halt was lifted. The Wellington-based company’s share price fell 3.6 …

Air New Zealand, the country’s national carrier, is targeting a return to Singapore with a planned codesharing alliance with Singapore Airlines. The Auckland-based airline and Asian carrier plan to boost their capacity between New Zealand and Singapore by 30 percent with the tie-up, which will introduce an Auckland-Singapore route for the first time, Air NZ said in a statement. New …

A Labour-led government will make good on its promise to regulate the electricity industry and stamp out ‘super-profits’, a threat that has weighed on power company stocks, deputy leader David Parker says. Labour and the Greens unveiled plans to overhaul New Zealand’s electricity market on the eve of the government’s MightyRiverPower selldown last year. The operator of nine hydro stations …