GLOBAL MARKETS: US bond and equity market remained in shutdown mode as post-tropical cyclone Sandy slammed into New Jersey , with a reported 13-foot storm surge inundating low lying areas including New York ’s subway system (see below). In Europe , markets were quiet and rangy, although sentiment remained positive on solid earnings reports from BP and Deutsche Bank AG. …

Haier has got over the 90 per cent threshold to take full control of Fisher & Paykel Appliances. It will now compulsorily acquire remaining shares and delist the company. Haier New Zealand Investment’s offer for all the shares in Fisher & Payel Appliances went unconditional last week. NZ Inc earlier reported Haier  received the Overseas Investment Office ‘s consent to proceed with …

Livestock Improvement Corp has granted an extension to Agria on the Chinese company’s $10 million loan it used to help it take control of PGG Wrightson. “To give Agria time to source additional funds to enable repayment, the payment date for these amounts has been extended,” LIC said in a statement. “The effect of that extension is that an amount …