The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index touched a fresh record high, as US retail sales unexpectedly rose in April, before giving up gains. In afternoon trading in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.21 percent, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.07 percent. The Nasdaq Composite Index eked out a 0.07 percent gain. The S&P 500 touched a record …

Chinese food giant Bright Dairy & Food will give up its controlling stake when local dairy processor Synlait Milk is listing on the stock exchange, retaining its stake without participating in the share sale. Shanghai-based Bright Dairy is expected to keep its investment, diluting its 51 percent stake into the 40s. Other shareholders will have the opportunity to sell some …

ACT New Zealand Primary Industries spokesman Don Nicolson called for an urgent inquiry into monopoly kiwifruit exporter ZESPRI International’s operations after allegations of dodgy business practices were highlighted on TVNZ’s ‘One News’ last night. It is alleged that ZESPRI had full knowledge of the actions of their importer in China and was complicit in their actions to defraud the Chinese …