US Federal Reserve policy makers have helped renew optimism in global equities with their promise to be patient on raising interest rates, triggering a late Santa rally as Christmas approaches. Fed Chair Janet Yellen suggested the central bank will keep key rates near zero at least through the first quarter of 2015. That timetable helped lift Wall Street last week: …

Steel & Tube Holdings is considering its legal position after an interim judgment found in favour of Lewis Holdings’ $1.75 million claim over a disputed lease contract. In October, the Lower Hutt-based company denied any legal responsibility for losses relating to a contract lease between former subsidiary Stube Industries, which was liquidated last year, and Lewis Holdings. The interim judgment found in …

Britannia Financial Services, a UK pension transfer agency whose advertisements feature “financial motivator” Brendon Johnson, has tweaked its website and paused television advertising after the Financial Markets Authority raised concerns about people feeling “press ganged” into shifting retirement funds. The markets watchdog has raised concerns about some advertising which emphasises the need to transfer UK pensions before April 2015 to avoid incoming tax and …