New Zealand shares rose as investors were drawn to companies with a growth story, such as SkyCity Entertainment, while Chorus fell on disappointment a report on its funding issues hasn’t swayed the government. The NZX 50 Index gained 18.552 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4735.611. Within the index, 25 stocks rose, 15 fell and 10 were unchanged. Turnover was $149 …

NZX, the stock exchange operator, is declining comment on a claim by telecommunications lobbyists that there's an emerging pattern of spikes in the Chorus share price ahead of the release of market-sensitive information from the government. The chief executive of the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand, Paul Brislen, cited two incidents, in August and in the last five days, …

The New Zealand dollar extended its rally against its trans-Tasman counterpart as the divergence between the neighbouring economies makes local interest rates more attractive, ahead of tomorrow’s release of minutes to the last Reserve Bank of Australia policy meeting. The kiwi rose as high as 92.49 Australian cents, the highest since October 2008, trading at 92.40 cents at 5pm in …