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The rally that has propelled the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index 9.2 percent higher so far this year may finally-this week-bring the benchmark index to a fresh record. The index is now about 10 points shy of its all-time high of 1,565.15 and it could get the boost it needs as traders position their holdings for the end of the …

Chilean Economy, Development and Tourism Minister Pablo Longueira is visiting New Zealand this week to carry out discussions on education, Māori economic development and tourism. Minister Longueira, who was invited to visit New Zealand by Prime Minister John Key during his recent Latin America trip, arrived today for a four-day visit. He is accompanied by a 21-strong delegation including the …

The New Zealand dollar gained against the euro as Cyprus nears a deadline to secure a European Union bailout to avoid a collapse of its banks and the possible exit from the euro zone. The kiwi traded at 64.39 euro cents from 64.22 cents in late New York trading on Friday. It slipped to 83.38 US cents from 83.51 cents. …

The rally that has propelled the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index 9.2 percent higher so far this year may finally-this week-bring the benchmark index to a fresh record. The index is now about 10 points shy of its all-time high of 1,565.15 and it could get the boost it needs as traders position their holdings for the end of the …

Pyne Gould Corp, the South Island asset management firm controlled by George Kerr, has sold the bulk of its Perpetual businesses to Australian research and management group van Eyk Research. The Christchurch-based group has sold Perpetual Asset Management and Perpetual Portfolio Management, though hasn’t included Perpetual Trust as previously indicated. The sale was flagged in January, and would see Pyne …

New Zealand shares were mixed in the post-earnings, ex-dividend hiatus. Mainfreight extended its decline after saying earnings would miss estimates and Auckland International Airport rose after reporting monthly passenger growth. The NZX 50 Index edged up 0.38 points, or 0.01 percent, to 4342.88. Within the index, 23 stocks fell, 16 rose and 11 were unchanged. Turnover was $114 million. Mainfreight, …

The New Zealand dollar is heading for a 1.2 percent weekly gain on a trade-weighted basis after figures showed the economy grew at almost twice the Reserve Bank’s expected pace in the fourth quarter and amid talk Fonterra Cooperative Group may hike its payout next week. The kiwi rose to 76.46 on the trade-weighted index at 5pm in Wellington from …

The Reserve Bank is seeking to strengthen its oversight over payment and settlement systems, and wants to bring the financial markets watchdog on side to help with securities market settlement systems. The central bank is seeking submissions on proposals to bolster its oversight powers and give it the ability to impose penalties and management regimes for failing systems. The bank …

Apple Sales New Zealand, the local unit of the iPad and iPod maker, posted a 38 percent jump in full-year sales to $571 million, though the tax department received a payment amounting to just 0.4 percent of that. Apple’s New Zealand sales topped the half billion dollar mark in 2012 after rising to $414 million in 2011, according to its …

Neil Craig, chairman of brokerage Craigs Investment Partners, says 2013 may continue to be a busy year for placements as a rising share market stokes demand and investors continue to chase yield in the face of low interest rates. The brokerage that’s half owned by Deutsche Bank lifted profit in 2012 by 7.5 percent to $5.7 million, according to its …