Tower, the insurer that is 34 percent owned by Guinness Peat Group, has posted a first-half profit after reaping $51.4 million in gains from the sale of its health, life, and investment units that left it as a general insurer. Net profit rose to $44.2 million, or 19.33 cents per share, in the six months ended March 31, from $23.6 …

The New Zealand dollar may halt its slump against the greenback on signs the world’s largest economy is not yet in a self-sustaining recovery. The kiwi, which has dropped 5.5 percent this month against the US dollar, recently bought 80.86 US cents, from 80.76 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index edged up to 76.34 from 76.23 at 5pm yesterday. …

European equities advanced as investors judged recent declines as overdone and concern about the end of central bank support premature. Europe’s benchmark Stoxx 600 Index ended the day with an increase of 0.3 percent, following last week’s 2.1 percent decline as investors worried that the US Federal Reserve might begin to pare its bond-buying program earlier than expected. Germany’s DAX …