Synlait Milk, which twice cut its earnings forecast, posted earnings growth that met revised guidance and said it plans to take a 25 percent stake Sichuan New Hope Nutritional Foods Co to gain a direct interest in a Chinese infant formula brand. Profit rose 70 percent to $19.6 million in the 12 months ended July 31, from $11.5 million a year earlier, …

The New Zealand dollar advanced after the incumbent centre-right National Party won an outright election victory at the weekend, reassuring investors that current economic policies would continue.  The kiwi gained to 81.49 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 81.24 cents at the New York close and 81.36 cents at 5pm on Friday. The trade-weighted index rose to 78.84 from 78.44 …

The ruling National Party has been very comfortably re-elected at the weekend’s election in New Zealand, delivering Prime Minister John Key a third three year term as the countries leader. Mr Key’s personal popularity with the electorate was a crucial feature during the election, and despite the various late attempts to throw the campaign off track National were actually able …