Wall Street continued its slide even after American retail sales rose more than expected as the data fuelled talk that the US Federal Reserve will soon begin to taper its monthly bond-buying programme. Just days away from the next Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Dec. 17 and 18, US consumers appear more confident than forecast. Retail sales climbed 0.7 …

New Zealand shares were mixed as network operator Chorus extended its rebound from a record low and clothing chain Hallenstein Glasson Holdings said it may have to cut guidance. The NZX 50 rose 3.894 points, or 0.1 percent, to 4708.198. Within the index, 16 stocks rose, 23 fell and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was $168 million. Chorus rose 3 percent …

Slingshot, the telecommunications and broadband provider, has been fined $250,000 after pleading guilty to forcing customers unwittingly to take its service and then aggressively pursuing them for payment and referring some to debt collection agencies when they refused. Competitor and industry major Telecom expressed delight at the result, which followed a guilty plea by Call Plus Services, trading as Slingshot, …