Following Wall Street’s lacklustre start to 2014, the latest US jobs data will take centre stage to gauge the odds that Federal Reserve policy makers might announce a further easing of their bond-buying program after their meeting at the end of this month. This week will see the release of the latest ADP employment report, weekly jobless claims and, importantly, …

The New Zealand dollar traded in a narrow range though it may be headed for some volatility as a raft of Federal Reserve speakers take to the airwaves this weekend ahead of next week’s release of the latest Fed minutes and the closely watched monthly US employment data. The kiwi was at 82.25 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from …

Tower, which sold the majority of its life insurance business to Fidelity Life Assurance in May, says it has decided to retain the remaining life assets after talks with potential buyers. The general insurer said it has ended talks with a number of interested parties and has decided not to sell Tower Life (NZ). It sold most of its life …