New Zealand shares rose, led by Air New Zealand and Kathmandu, after the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record high, better economic growth in Australia and as the local market digests New Corp’s Sky Network Television stake. The NZX 50 Index rose 28.81 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4297.97. Within the index, 30 stocks rose, 16 fell and four …

Alternative milk marketer A2 Corp is set to join the NZX 50 index after qualifying in the February review, and will topple rural services firm PGG Wrightson from the benchmark bourse. The change will come into effect from the open of trading on March 18, stock exchange operator NZX said in a statement. Shares in Wrightson rose 2.6 percent to …

The New Zealand dollar extended gains through the local session after Australian growth renewed investors’ interest in the trans-Tasman currencies after rising dairy prices and strong US equity markets sparked off an earlier rally. The kiwi rose to 83.28 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 83.18 cents at 8.30am and 82.92 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index advanced to 76.32 …