Mercer Group, the stainless steel fabricator, cut its annual earnings forecast after two big equipment sales missed the June financial year, though it’s upbeat about talks to licence its technology to a large multinational company. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation will be between $2.2 million and $2.5 million in the 12 months ending June 30, the Auckland-based company …

The New Zealand dollar fell to a 12-month low as the Federal Reserve’s signal of an end to quantitative easing, weak Chinese manufacturing and tighter credit sapped risk appetite and sent investors rushing to the greenback. The kiwi fell to 77.48 US cents, and earlier dropped to a 12-month low of 77.10 cents, from 78.54 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index …

Stocks on both sides of the Atlantic sank after a report showing China’s manufacturing decreased at a faster rate in May and as investors digested Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s comments that the bank may soon begin paring its stimulus. Yesterday Bernanke said the Fed may downsize its US$85 billion-a-month bond-buying program later this year if the economy strengthens in …