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New Zealand’s services sector, which makes up about two thirds of the economy, slowed in February while remaining in expansion, led by sales, with signs the strong pace of growth in 2014 is continuing into the current year. The BNZ-BusinessNZ performance of services index (PSI) fell 2.2 points to 55.6 last month, with all five sub-indexes above the 50 level that …

Pushpay Holdings, the NZAX-listed mobile payment app developer, has secured a $4 million funding line from cornerstone shareholder the Huljich family as it chases earnings growth in the US. Christopher & Banks Private Equity V, an investment vehicle for the Huljich family, have loaned the Auckland and Redmond-based company the cash on “arm’s length commercial terms” until June next year, Pushpay said in …

A2 Milk Co, the milk marketing company chasing a dual-listing across the Tasman, has issued an information memorandum to would-be Australian investors after gaining preliminary approval to list on the Australian stock exchange. The Auckland-based company’s application to list on the ASX has been approved in principle but is yet to finalise a date for its Australian debut, it said in a statement. A2 …

The New Zealand dollar touched a record against the euro as the European common currency slumped in the first week of the European Central Bank’s bond-buying programme. The kiwi hit a record 69.96 euro cents on Saturday morning, and was trading at 69.86 cents at 8am in Wellington, from 69.47 cents at 5pm on Friday. The local currency slipped to 73.21 US …

The key focus in the coming days will be how the US Federal Reserve tweaks its monetary policy position, and what that means for the timing of an interest rate increase. Last week, the US dollar continued its ascent in anticipation of a lift in rates, rising to the highest level in 12 years against the euro and the highest …

The New Zealand dollar jumped more than 1 US cent after Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler kept interest rates on hold and reiterated that future moves in rates could be “up or down”, surprising traders who expected him to drop a reference to rates potentially moving higher. The kiwi rose as high as 73.05 US cents, from 71.84 cents before …

New Zealand’s national income is expected to get an annual boost of about $2.4 billion as the fight between new energy producers and the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries for market share keep global oil prices low, according to the Reserve Bank. Last year’s 50 percent slump in the price of Dubai crude oil to about US$55 a barrel has …

Any further downward surprises in New Zealand’s already tepid pace of consumer inflation may warrant an interest rate cut, the Reserve Bank says. Governor Graeme Wheeler left the official cash rate unchanged at 3.5 percent, while stripping out any projected hikes from the bank’s forecast horizon as a slump in global oil prices keeps a lid on wage and price …

The Reserve Bank has removed the prospect of future interest rate hikes from its forecast horizon as a strong kiwi dollar and cheap oil hold down inflation, and the central bank ponders whether to lower its assessment of where “neutral” interest rates should be. The kiwi dollar gained after the statement. Governor Graeme Wheeler kept the official cash rate at 3.5 percent, …

The New Zealand dollar dropped to a five-week low ahead of the Reserve Bank decision on interest rates today as the greenback surged to a 12-year high. The kiwi touched 71.87 US cents, close to its February low of 71.74 cents, and was trading at 71.97 cents at 8am in Wellington, from 72.39 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index …