Heartland Bank, which trades on the NZX as Heartland New Zealand, had its credit rating lifted a notch by Fitch Ratings, after the agency was impressed by its improved asset quality and stronger earnings. Fitch raised the Christchurch-based lender’s long-term issuer default rating to BBB from BBB-minus, its short-term rating to F2 from F3 and its viability rating to bbb …

The New Zealand dollar gained after weaker than expected US durable goods data weighed on the outlook for growth in the world’s largest economy. The kiwi rose to 79.25 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 78.98 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index advanced to 76.93 from 76.71 yesterday. The US dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of …

Stocks on both sides of the Atlantic advanced amid better-than-expected corporate earnings and US consumer confidence climbing to the highest level in seven years. Focus is also squarely on US Federal Reserve policy makers as they started their two-day meeting. The central bank is expected to end its monthly bond-buying program. Shares of Amgen jumped, last up 5.1 percent, after …