New Zealand new home building consents fell in June though the decline wasn’t enough to prevent growth in the second quarter from reaching a five-year high, government figures show. New dwelling consents fell 4 percent, seasonally adjusted, in June from May, when they gained 1 percent, according to Statistics New Zealand. The latest two months followed a 21 percent surge …

The New Zealand dollar may extend this year’s 10 percent gain against the Australian dollar should Reserve Bank of Australia governor Glenn Stevens today affirm that a slowing economy justifies further interest rate cuts. The kiwi recently traded at 87.20 Australian cents, little changed from 87.27 cents at the 5pm market close in Wellington yesterday. The local currency weakened to …

Wall Street weakened as investors awaited more details from US Federal Reserve policy makers on paring back their bond buying at a two-day meeting starting tomorrow. In late afternoon trading in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.15 percent, as declines in shares of Bank of America, last 1.3 percent weaker, and Chevron, last 1 percent lower, weighed …