Finance Minister Bill English will present Budget 2013 on Thursday 16 May against a background of continued fiscal restraint. “This will be the National-led Government’s fifth Budget in what have been extremely challenging global economic times,” English  says. “It will continue to implement the Government’s programme to deliver a more competitive and faster-growing economy, more jobs and a return to fiscal …

ASB Bank, the local unit of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, posted a 7 percent gain in first-half cash profit on increased mortgage and business lending saw growth in interest income outpace operating expenses. Cash profit, which excludes some one-time items, rose to $348 million in the six months ended Dec. 31 from $324 million a year earlier, according to the …

SkyCity Entertainment Group, the casino and hotel company, said first-half profit fell 16 percent on a lower win rate for its international business and year-earlier Rugby World Cup benefits that weren’t repeated. Net profit fell to $66.3 million, or 11.5 cents a share, in the six months ended Dec. 31, from $78.8 million, or 13.7 cents a share, a year …