The New Zealand dollar fell after dairy exporter Fonterra Cooperative Group surprised investors by keeping its forecast payout to farmers unchanged and as traders await the Reserve Bank’s policy statement, which is expected to keep interest rates at a record low. The kiwi dropped to 82.78 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 83.11 cents at 8am, little changed from …

Restaurant Brands, New Zealand’s largest fast food operator by sales, said third -quarter sales growth accelerated to 5.4 percent this year, compared with just 0.5 percent growth in the same period a year earlier. Sales rose to $76.2 million in the 12 weeks ended Dec. 2, from $72.2 million in the same period a year earlier, even as it had …

Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund units retreated to last year’s issue price after the dairy giant slashed its forecast dividend payments by two thirds and halved its earnings forecast, saying high milk powder prices haven’t been matched by cheese and casein. The units, which are entitled to dividends from Fonterra’s shares, dropped as low as $5.49, below last year’s $5.50 issue price. …