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. …

The Serious Fraud Office is running two investigations relating to the Canterbury rebuild, with the SFO saying there’s evidence of other insurance fraud not serious enough for it to get involved. Separately, a unit of Fletcher Building defended its auditing of rebuild related invoices. The white-collar crime investigator has been keeping tabs on the $30 billion rebuild, which it expects …