New Zealand Oil & Gas has asked to be placed in a trading halt for around four hours on both the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges, pending “a material announcement regarding how NZOF progresses with a material asset.” The company is making no further comment. However, information on the company’s website suggests the announcement is likely to be regarding …

MOD Resources, the ASX-listed gold, copper and silver explorer with permits in the South Island’s Golden Bay region, has raised A$2.5 million in a placement to Hong Kong-based Meriton Capital. The placement was for 50 million MOD shares at 5 Australian cents apiece, compared to their last trading price on the ASX of 4.8 cents. Meriton now owns 9.6 percent …

New Zealand business confidence rose to a 19-month high this month, with gains in all five sectors tracked as companies become more bullish about investment, profits and hiring. A net 39.4 percent of firms polled in the ANZ Business Outlook expect general business conditions to improve in the year ahead, up from 23 percent a month earlier. A net 38 …