PGG Wrightson, the rural services company controlled by Singapore-based Agria, listed first-half profit by 55 percent on earning s growth from retail and Ag services, allowing it to declare a 2.2 cents a share interim dividend. Profit rose to $4.8 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, from $3.1 million a year earlier, the company said in a statement. …

Fonterra Cooperative Group, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, has held its forecast farmgate payment on expectations of higher global prices in the second half of the season, and wants to grow its winter milk supply, meaning a tinkering with the capital structure. Farmers are still expected to be paid $5.50 per kilogram of milk solids, with forecast earnings per share …

The New Zealand dollar fell below 83 US cents and breached a key technical support level on fears the inconclusive Italian election could herald a return to populist, anti-EU policy, which could spread to other indebted nations in the region. The New Zealand dollar fell to 82.58 US cents from 83.39 cents at 5pm in Wellington yesterday. The currency broke …