Shares in Methven fell 2.3 percent after chief executive Rick Fala will leave the tapware manufacturer in September. The shares fell 3 cents to $1.30, matching its lowest level this year on March 11. Fala leaves after 15 years in charge, and will stay on the board as an independent director. His decision to stay on the board comes after …

New Zealand shares fell after global transport group Mainfreight said full-year earnings would miss analyst estimates and Xero snapped a stellar run, falling from a record high as some investors took profits. The NZX 50 Index fell 6.92 points, or 0.2 percent, to 4342.50. Within the index, 23 stocks fell, 21 gained, and six were unchanged. Turnover was $165 million. …

The New Zealand dollar climbed to a three-week high after government figures showed the economy grew 1.5 percent in the final three months of 2012, almost twice the Reserve Bank’s forecast. The kiwi rose to 82.67 US cents at 5pm in from 82.27 cents at 8am and the same price yesterday. The trade-weighted index gained to 76.12 from 75.78 yesterday. …