New Zealand property sales fell 7.6 percent in February from a year earlier, which may indicate restrictions on high-debt lending are hindering first-home buyers, according to the industry body representing real estate agents. Some 6,125 properties were sold by real estate agents in February, down from 6,632 the same month last year, the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand said …

The New Zealand dollar touched a month-high against the British pound after a Bank of England official talked down the value of sterling. The kiwi rose as high as 50.92 British pence early this morning, matching the level it reached a month ago, and was trading at 50.84 pence at 8am in Wellington from 50.56 pence at 5pm yesterday. The …

Stocks and commodities including copper and iron ore fell after a surprise drop in China’s exports bolstered concern about the slowing growth in the world’s second-largest economy. China’s exports sank 18.1 percent in February from a year earlier, according to General Administration of Customs data on the weekend. As a result, copper futures for May delivery shed 1.5 percent to …