New Zealand’s economy grew at its fastest quarterly pace in almost four years, led by a booming dairy sector and as companies prepare for more growth in 2014, adding to the prospects for a hike in interest rates in the first quarter. Gross domestic product grew 1.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted $37.99 billion in the three months ended Sept …

New Zealand’s annual current account deficit widened to a four-year high as a reviving economy took in more imports and foreigners continued to reap greater profits here than kiwi firms garnered abroad. The current account gap widened to $8.8 billion, or 4.1 percent of gross domestic product, in the year ended Sept. 30, according to Statistics New Zealand. The actual …

Fitch Ratings has praised Fonterra Cooperative Group’s decision to hold the forecast payout to farmers and slashing its dividend by two-thirds amid a growing gap in prices between milk powders and its cheese and casein products. The Auckland-based company’s decision is “characteristic of the fiscal discipline that underscores its credit rating,” Fitch said in a statement. Fonterra has an AA …