The New Zealand dollar rose as traders squared up their year-end positions as negotiations in the US to stave off legislated tax hikes and spending cuts that automatically kick in on Jan. 1 remain unresolved. That kiwi is heading for a 5.8 percent annual gain on its relative yield advantage. The kiwi rose to 82.33 US cents at 1.30pm in …

Fairfax Media Group will face another raid by activist shareholder and iron ore magnate Gina Rinehart after she enlisted Macquarie Radio Network’s John Singleton in her bid to exert control over the publisher of the Dominion Post, Sydney Morning Herald and Australian Financial Review. Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting and Singleton’s Gutenberg Investments have pooled their Fairfax shareholding to hold 15.4 percent …

The New Zealand dollar was little changed against the greenback as traders awaited developments on US budget talks, with the fiscal cliff deadline now just two days away. The kiwi dollar traded at 81.94 US cents from 81.93 cents in New York on Friday. The trade-weighted index was at 73.53 from 73.55. President Barack Obama told NBC’s Meet the Press …