New Zealand business confidence rose to its highest in more than three years in June, led by the construction sector. A net 50.1 percent of firms expect general business conditions to improve in the year ahead, up from 41.8 percent in May, and the highest level since early 2010, according to the ANZ Business Outlook. Firms seeing a pickup in …

The Reserve Bank says raising interest rates now isn’t the right policy response to an overheated housing market and the bank considers restricting low equity home loans as offering the “greatest potential” to curb demand. Deputy governor Grant Spencer told the Business NZ Council in Wellington that the “overheated housing market is a real threat to future financial stability” and …

Fletcher Building’s head of the distribution division, John Beveridge, has resigned after four years in the job. Beveridge will step down as chief executive of Fletcher’s distribution unit at the end of next month “to pursue personal interest,” the company said in a statement. He’s staying on to help smooth the transition period, and his successor will be made in …