Equities extended Wednesday’s rally on Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s promise to “be patient” with interest rates, bolstered by data showing the US economy continues to accelerate. “Based on its current assessment, the committee judges that it can be patient in beginning to normalise the stance of monetary policy,” the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement after a …

New Zealand shares rose, led by OceanaGold Corp and Air New Zealand following a global rally as a rebound in oil prices and positive statements from the US Federal Reserve gave investors hope for the international economy. Arvida Group was flat in its NZX debut. The NZX 50 Index rose 21.891 points, or 0.4 percent, to 5518.476. Within the index, 31 stocks rose, …

The New Zealand dollar dipped after the country’s pace of economic growth was revised down, though continued to beat expectations, and as the Federal Reserve gets closer to making a call on whether to hike interest rates. The kiwi fell to 77.13 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 77.80 cents at 8.15am and 77.36 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index increased …