New Zealand shares rose to a new record close, led by Restaurant Brands New Zealand after the country’s biggest fast-food operator boosted its annual earnings guidance. Spark New Zealand pace gains as investors sought defensive stocks with reliable dividends The NZX 50 Index rose 13.126 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5292.825. Within the index, 20 stocks rose, 15 fell and 15 were unchanged. Turnover was $130.7 …

Fonterra Co-operative Group, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, has begun a consultation process prior to lodging consent applications to build two new high-efficiency milk powder driers at its Studholme site in South Canterbury. The Auckland-based dairy company said the proposed investment would add about 9 million litres of capacity to its milk processing in South Canterbury, one of the country’s fastest-growing dairy …

The New Zealand dollar fell after figures showed inflation in the third quarter was slower than the Reserve Bank had forecast, giving it less reason to resume raising interest rates after pausing its tightening cycle in July. The kiwi fell to 79.52 US cents as at 5 pm in Wellington, down from 79.09 cents immediately before the inflation data was released and …