The New Zealand dollar fell after better than US jobs figures and minutes to the last Federal Reserve policy meeting stoked optimism over the recovery in the world’s biggest economy, and fuelled expectations the US central bank may withdraw stimulus faster than anticipated. The kiwi fell to 82.54 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 82.86 cents at 8am and …

New Zealand commodity prices rose in December, led by gains in dairy products. The ANZ Commodity Price Index advanced 1 percent to 330.4 from November, touching its second highest level on record. The index is about 22 percent above December 2012. International prices for 10 of New Zealand’s main commodities increased in the month, three fell and four were unchanged. …

New Zealand building consents issued by local councils for new homes rose 11 percent in November, boosted by apartment developments. New dwelling consents, including apartments, rose to a seasonally adjusted 2,267 in November from 1,891 in October, according to Statistics New Zealand. Excluding apartments, seasonally adjusted consents fell 0.5 percent. Last month, New Zealand’s Reserve Bank exempted new home building …