The board of Goodman Fielder will unanimously back a A$1.37 billion takeover bid by Singapore-based Wilmar International and Hong Kong-listed investment firm First Pacific Co in the absence of a better offer. Wilmar, the world’s biggest palm oil processor, and First Pacific will pay 70 Australian cents a share to take over the Australasian food ingredients maker, sweetening an earlier …

The New Zealand dollar weakened after Chinese data at the weekend signalled a slowdown in the property market of Asia’s largest economy. The kiwi was at 86.27 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 86.21 cents at the New York close and 86.42 cents at 5pm in Wellington on Friday. The trade-weighted index slipped to 80.21 from 80.32 on Friday. China, Australia and New Zealand’s largest …

Investors will eye the latest US Federal Reserve meeting minutes as well as a speech by Chair Janet Yellen for fresh clues to help justify Wall Street trading near record highs. On Wednesday the Fed will release the minutes from its latest meeting, while Yellen is scheduled to deliver a commencement address to NYU graduates at Yankee Stadium. Last Thursday Yellen …