SkyCity Entertainment Group has agreed to buy Queenstown’s Wharf Casino for $5 million from Malaysia’s Lasseters, adding 74 electronic gaming machines and six gaming tables to its existing operations in the resort town. The deal is subject to Commerce Commission and Gambling Commission approvals. The company moved to 100 percent ownership of Queenstown Casino in December, buying out Skyline Enterprises’ …

The New Zealand dollar dropped to an eight-and-a-half-month low on optimism an improving economic outlook in the US may prompt that nation’s central bank to end its quantitative easing policy. The kiwi fell to 80.62 US cents from 80.68 cents on Friday in New York and 81.10 at 5pm in Wellington. It touched 80.58 cents late Friday, its lowest level …

Wall Street seems destined to push to fresh highs again this week as investors continue to bet on both an improving economic outlook and a solid commitment from the US Federal Reserve to counter any weakness. On Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.80 percent to close at a record 15,354.40, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index added …