The level of activity on the NZX grew for a 17th month in January, though the value of transactions was lower than the same month last year. The total number of trades rose 43 percent to 98,903 in January, with the daily average at 4,710, according to NZX’s monthly shareholder metrics. The total value traded fell 8 percent to $2.1 …

The New Zealand dollar rose to a week high as sentiment improved, turning investor attention to riskier assets such as the kiwi. The kiwi touched 82.82 US cents this morning, and was at 82.68 cents at 8am in Wellington from 82.38 cents at 5pm yesterday. Concern about emerging market weakness has abated, pushing up European and US equities, US interest …

Tower chairman Michael Stiassny took a swipe at Australian rival Insurance Australia Group’s bid to buy Wesfarmers’ trans-Tasman underwriting businesses, saying the market dominance creates “significant risk.” IAG has sought clearance from Australasian antitrust regulators to buy the WFI and Lumley Insurance brands as well as a 10-year distribution agreement with Coles for A$1.85 billion, something Tower’s Stiassny says is …