New Zealand shares fell for a third session, led by Tower as institutional investors re-weight their portfolios ahead of MightRiverPower’s addition to the top 50 index next week. The NZX 50 Index fell 25.079 points, or 0.6 percent, to 4538.306. Within the index, 31 stocks fell, 10 rose and nine were unchanged. Turnover was a lower-than-average $119.4 million. MRP fell …

The government employed Financial Markets Authority chairman Simon Allen to help negotiate its $402 million convention centre-for-gaming concessions deal with SkyCity Entertainment Group. Allen, a former investment banker who has chaired the market watchdog since May 2011, took a key role in talks with the casino and hotel group, according to papers released by Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment …

The New Zealand dollar is heading for a 2.1 percent weekly gain against the greenback as investors pare their bets on the world’s reserve currency in a week where US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke reiterated that the central bank is set on winding back its money printing programme. The kiwi rose to 79.12 US cents at 5pm in Wellington …