US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen’s testimony to Congress will offer a key focus in the coming days, while investors will also try to gauge whether earnings support the improved outlook for the world’s biggest economy. On Tuesday, Yellen is scheduled to deliver her semi-annual policy testimony to the Senate Banking Committee, and the next day to the House Financial …

New Zealand shares declined, tracking US and European equities lower as sentiment waned on concern about the euro-zone’s financial stability after a major Portuguese bank missed debt payments. The NZX 50 Index slid 27.421 points, or 0.535 percent, to 5,100.592. Within the index, 30 stocks fell, nine rose, and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was $81.3 million. In northern hemisphere trading overnight, …

Infratil, the infrastructure investor, has appointed Kiwibank deputy chair Alison Gerry to its board. Her appointment as an independent director fills a casual vacancy and expands the Infratil board to six directors, the company said in a statement. She will retire and seek re-election at Infratil’s Aug. 12 annual meeting. She will also the Infratil board’s audit and risk committee. Gerry has been …