New Zealand shares fell as some investors sold shares in one of the world’s best performing equity markets this year. Contact Energy and Chorus paced the decline. The NZX 50 Index fell 10.75 points, or 0.3 percent, to 4030.77. Within the index, 26 stocks fell, 13 rose and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was about $126 million. So far this year …

The New Zealand dollar gained after Fonterra Cooperative Group lifted its forecast payout to farmers next year on rising dairy prices, and after Chinese manufacturing figures on the weekend gave investors heart about the strength of the world’s second-biggest economy. The kiwi rose to 83.32 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 83.12 cents at 8.30am and 83.24 cents on …

State Owned Enterprises Minister, Tony Ryall, has announced the reappointment of Prue Flacks to the Board of Mighty River Power. Flacks has been an MRP director since May 2010. She is a barrister and solicitor with extensive specialist experience in commercial law, banking and finance and securities law, and a consultant to Russell McVeagh, where she was a partner for …