Argosy Property reported a jump in full-year profit after earnings in the previous year were eroded by the costs of internalising its management contract. Net property income fell 1.8 percent. Profit was $39.2 million in the 12 months ended March 31, from $1.9 million a year earlier, when it spent $20 million internalising its management contract. Distributable earnings, the favoured …

The New Zealand dollar fell after US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the central bank may taper monthly bond purchases at its next few meetings if it’s confident of sustained gains in the economy. The kiwi dropped to 80.64 US cents from 81.47 cents at 5pm in Wellington yesterday. The trade-weighted index fell to 76.38 from 76.82 yesterday. The …

US stocks and bonds fell, both giving up earlier gains, after Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke suggested the central bank might scale back stimulus measures as early as at its next meeting. “If we see continued improvement and we have confidence that that is going to be sustained, then we could in-in the next few meetings, we could take a …