The New Zealand dollar rose above 85 US cents for the first time in two months as global equity markets rose, local business confidence improved and Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke gave no hint that quantitative easing could end. The kiwi advanced to 85.21 US cents, rising above 85 cents for the first time since Feb. 15, from 84.86 cents …

Wall Street advanced, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average sauntering to an intraday record as investors found value in Microsoft, Intel and Cisco. Shares of Microsoft, last up 3.7 percent, Intel, last up 3.4 percent, and Cisco, last up 2.3 percent propelled the Dow to a fresh intraday high of 14,716.46. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index followed suit, touching …

Methven, the tapware maker, says full-year profit fell about 21 percent on weaker trading in the Australian market. The shares fell to an 11-month low. Net profit in the 12 months ended March 31 was about a fifth lower than the previous year’s $6.5 million and profit before one-time items was about 12 percent lower, the Auckland-based company said in …