New Zealand’s capital city will be open for business tomorrow after a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit the Cook Strait, while scientists say there’s a one-in-five chance of a similar-size temblor this week. Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown told a media briefing today it will be up to employers to determine whether their staff should come in. Portions of the city were …

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake in New Zealand’s Cook Strait has closed Wellington financial trading rooms and shut down portions in the capital city as local authorities assess the damage. Wellington trading desks at Bank of New Zealand and ANZ Bank New Zealand are closed as corporates in the capital join the rest of the city in checking buildings following a …

The New Zealand dollar slipped in local trading as investors await US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke’s Congressional testimony, where they’ll look for any hints on the central bank unwinding its asset purchase programme. The kiwi traded at 78.70 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 78.97 cents at 8am and 78.28 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index edged up to …