Shares on both sides of the Atlantic moved higher, triggered in part by a late surge in Chinese equities, amid optimism China’s government will act to support its flagging economy. In New York trading at about 2.45pm, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 2.3 percent, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index climbed 2.1 percent, while the Nasdaq Composite Index added …

The New Zealand dollar rose ahead of the Reserve Bank’s statement on Thursday and after an Australian survey showed improving business conditions even while business confidence fell, giving traders more confidence economic growth across the Tasman won’t collapse. The kiwi rose to 62.76 US cents as at 5pm in Wellington, from 62.67 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index was little changed at 68.49 from 68.54 …

The Serious Fraud Office has laid Crimes Act charges against Victor John Clarke, a former director of failed media company MediaWeb, in the Auckland District Court for alleged offending involving $2.2 million. The two false accounting charges including using a forged document and obtaining by deception in his role as overseeing the accounting and financial aspects of the failed business. …