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Wall Street fell as investors found little to soothe their nervousness over a potential downgrade of the US Federal Reserve’s bond-buying program. In late afternoon trading in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.84 percent, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index fell 0.74 percent and the Nasdaq Composite lost 1.03 percent. “There just isn’t much news to offset …

The New Zealand dollar was little changed in local trading as investors await Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler’s response to a 6.1 percent slide in the currency against the greenback since his last review. The kiwi traded at 78.76 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 78.65 cents at 8am and 78.80 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index fell to 73.45 …

New Zealand’s government wants to trim “super profits” from land banking which it says is the biggest impediment to housing affordability in Auckland. New Zealand’s Reserve Bank is concerned rising house prices where supply is failing to meet demand, particularly in Auckland, is threatening financial stability. Housing Minister Nick Smith is relying on an accord with Auckland City Council to …

New Zealand’s ultra-fast broadband initiative is threatened by a regulatory process that is “weird” to foreign investors, could ultimately be redundant, and is producing the opposite of the intended effect of splitting Telecom in two, says Chorus chief executive Mark Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe used a speech to a Commerce Commission conference on proposals to regulate prices for unbundled bitstream access to …

Opus International Consultants, the NZX-listed engineering consultancy, has relented on plans to seek approval to make capital contributions to a Middle East joint venture in perpetuity. Chairman Kerry McDonald said Opus will seek approval from minority shareholders for any contributions to a JV with Opus International (M) Bhd (OIMB) that exceed 20 percent of its market capitalisation. The change of …

Burger Fuel Worldwide, the fast food chain franchisor, boosted annual profit 55 percent as sales in the Middle East continued to surge. The company won’t pay a dividend as it builds up cash for investments. Net profit rose to $1.1 million, or 2.05 cents per share, in the 12 months ended March 31, from $708,000, or 1.32 cents, a year …

The New Zealand dollar slid to its lowest in almost five months against the yen after the Bank of Japan quashed expectations of further stimulus measures which would have debased the Japanese currency. The kiwi dropped to 75.11 yen at about 6am in Wellington, its lowest level since it touched 75.03 yen on Jan. 28. The local currency recently traded …

Equities on Wall Street and in Europe fell as the Bank of Japan’s decision to keep its monetary policy program unchanged disappointed those who had hoped for extra measures and underpinned concern the US Federal Reserve might taper its stimulus. In late afternoon trading in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.5 percent, the Standard & Poor’s 500 …

Westfield NZ Holdings, which owns nine shopping centres in New Zealand worth $2.8 billion, increased its dividend to its Australian owners by about two thirds last year after selling three properties and gaining tax benefits. Westfield paid $97.6 million in dividends in the year ended Dec. 31, 2012, according to the company’s financial statements. That’s an increase of 64 percent …

Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, has set the guaranteed price in its pilot scheme at $7 per kilogram of milk solids for those farmer-shareholders wanting to lock in payment certainty for the 2014 season. The guaranteed milk price matches its initial forecast for next season, and is part of a scheme letting farmers accept a price for …