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The New Zealand dollar slipped in local trading as investors await US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s Congressional testimony, where they’ll look for any hints on the central bank unwinding its asset purchase programme. The kiwi traded at 78.70 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 78.97 cents at 8am and 78.28 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index edged up to …

The kiwi dollar is holding below levels the Reserve Bank is forecasting for the third quarter though that’s unlikely to be enough to change its view of the interest rate outlook this week. The central bank will keep the official cash rate at 2.5 percent on Thursday, according to a Reuters survey of 16 economists. The bank will hike the …

The government employed Financial Markets Authority chairman Simon Allen to help negotiate its $402 million convention centre-for-gaming concessions deal with SkyCity Entertainment Group. Allen, a former investment banker who has chaired the market watchdog since May 2011, took a key role in talks with the casino and hotel group, according to papers released by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment …

The New Zealand dollar is heading for a 2.1 percent weekly gain against the greenback as investors pare their bets on the world’s reserve currency in a week where US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated that the central bank is set on winding back its money printing programme. The kiwi rose to 79.12 US cents at 5pm in Wellington …

New Zealand’s monthly inbound migration rose to a four-year high in June as more kiwis stayed at home amid the dwindling attraction of Australia’s slowing economy. Seasonally adjusted, there were 2,300 more migrants arriving in New Zealand than leaving in June, up from 1,740 a month earlier, and the most since May 2009, according to Statistics New Zealand. Permanent long-term …

Wynyard Group, the local spy software developer, fell 4.3 percent in its NZX debt, having listed at the $1.15 offer price. The shares recently traded at $1.10, valuing the company at $112.8 million, with about 370,000 shares changing hands on turnover of some $425,000. That’s just inside the indicative range of between $1.10 and $1.65 in the firm’s prospectus. The …

The New Zealand dollar rose to a week high against its Australian counterpart as the outlook for the local economy continues to outperform that of its closest neighbour. The kiwi jumped as high as 86.23 Australian cents, and recently traded at 86.14 cents from 85.69 cents at the 5pm market close in Wellington yesterday. The New Zealand dollar edged up …

Wall Street rose to a record after better-than-expected economic data and corporate earnings fuelled investors’ optimism the US economy is gathering steam as Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated the central bank’s ongoing support for growth. Bernanke testified before Congress for a second day, now to the Senate Banking Committee. He has finally managed to reassure investors that the Fed’s …

Surging prices for Auckland and Christchurch real estate do not constitute a housing market bubble because bank lending volumes have been plummeting for the last two months, says the executive director of the New Zealand Bankers Association, Kirk Hope. Political debate has raged this week over the impact on first home buyers if the Reserve Bank of New Zealand imposes …

New Zealand consumer confidence eased in July as higher petrol prices and the prospect of rising mortgage rates dented financial sentiment. The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index slipped to 119.8 from a three-year high of 123.9 in June. The current conditions index dropped 4 points to 118 and sentiment on future conditions eased 5 points to 121. All five questions …