The New Zealand dollar slumped on concern a food contamination scare at Fonterra Cooperative Group, the nation’s largest dairy company, will hit exports. The kiwi fell to a month low of 76.99 US cents, and recently traded at 77.15 US cents from 78.31 cents at the New York close and 78.87 cents at the 5pm market close in Wellington on …

Fresh reassurances from central banks in the US and Europe that their policies will remain accommodative as long as needed to help revive economic growth continues to bolster Wall Street to record highs and that optimism seems here to stay. Sentiment is such that even mixed news is good news. Non-farm payrolls climbed a lower-than-expected 162,000 in July, though the …

Synlait Milk, the Rakaia-based milk processor which listed last month, says its infant formula products haven’t been caught up in Fonterra Cooperative Group’s botulism scare, and doesn’t expect any long-term impact on its own business. The company hasn’t used any whey protein concentrate WPC80 that has been recalled by Fonterra and the Ministry for Primary Industries, though it might get …