The New Zealand dollar gained as signs of an improving US economy prompted investors to take on more risk, boosting equity markets and damping demand for gold and silver. The kiwi rose to 80.86 US cents from 79.20 cents at the 5pm market close in Wellington yesterday. The trade-weighted index advanced to 74.76 from 73.51 yesterday. Reports in the US …

The New Zealand government and SkyCity Entertainment Group are giving themselves another fortnight to cut a deal on the terms for the casino and hotel operator to build a $402 million convention centre in Auckland in exchange for regulatory concessions. Both parties agreed to extend the deadline to reach a final agreement until the end of the month, after initially …

Stocks climbed as the latest data on US retail sales and jobs bolstered hope that the world’s largest economy might be on track for a sustainable recovery. Retail sales rose a better-than-expected 0.6 percent last month after a 0.1 percent gain in April, data from the Commerce Department showed. Polls by Bloomberg News and Reuters had called for a 0.4 …