Wall Street fell in the first trading session of 2014, even as US manufacturing and jobless claims provided further evidence of an accelerating recovery in the world’s largest economy. The US Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index edged lower in December, down to 57 from 57.3 in November, its highest level in more than two years. Separately, initial claims for …

The New Zealand dollar was little changed in patchy trading leading in to the New Year holiday period and is likely to weaken next year as the Federal Reserve pulls back on its bond buying programme which has dented the greenback. The local currency edged up to 82.14 US cents at 4:30pm in Wellington, from 82.06 cents at 8am this …

New Zealand shares fell on the last trading day of 2013 on perceptions that valuations in the local market have become a little stretched pending more evidence of earnings growth. Xero, Summerset Group and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare paced the decline. The NZX 50 Index fell 31.970 points, or 0.7 percent, to 4737.010 and has advanced 17 percent in 2013. …