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Diligent Board Member Services, whose software helps directors to manage corporate governance information flows, is promising better board oversight after a review found an embarrassing oversight meaning executives got more options than they were entitled to. The mis-step tarnished an otherwise strong year operationally, with the New York-based and locally listed firm nearly tripling annual profit. Chairman David Liptak said …

Investors will eye February’s jobs report on Friday for fresh signs that the US economic recovery remains on track despite a range of headwinds – including the budget-cut debate in Washington and the political impasse in Rome. Wall Street keeps flirting with record highs but investors seem hesitant to push stock valuations substantially higher. In the past week, the Dow …

Investors will eye February’s jobs report on Friday for fresh signs that the US economic recovery remains on track despite a range of headwinds – including the budget-cut debate in Washington and the political impasse in Rome. Wall Street keeps flirting with record highs but investors seem hesitant to push stock valuations substantially higher. In the past week, the Dow …

  My assessment of the meeting is that the business leaders from Japan were very supportive of TPP in principle as a means of boosting Japan’s economic growth, but are aware of the practical challenges around joining this year. They were realistic about the political challenges that PM Abe faces from domestic interests such as agriculture but were generally optimistic …

Local Government Minister Chris Tremain says the passage of the Environment Canterbury (Temporary Commissioners and Improved Water Management) Amendment Bill will leave Canterbury better off. The bill passed its third reading in Parliament yesterday. “The Commissioners have done an outstanding job in turning around the situation in Canterbury over the last three years,” saysTremain. “They have been very effective in …

Telecom Corp, the county’s biggest phone company, has appointed Lion finance director Jolie Hodson as its new top number cruncher. Hodson will take up the role of chief financial officer from June, replacing Nick Olson. She’s currently a Sydney-based finance director of Lion’s beer, spirits & wines Australia division, its biggest business unit. Telecom’s general manager of commercial finance Tim Bluett …

Federated Farmers is warning New Zealand’s levy paying meat farmers that if the Primary Growth Partnership vote fails, farmers will be throwing away scientific investments vital for its future. “Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre executive supports the Collaboration for Sustainable Growth PGP,” says Jeanette Maxwell, Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre chairperson “The biggest thing farmers tell me they want is unity …

Pyne Gould Corp, the asset management company controlled and managed by George Kerr, reported a return to first-half earnings and forecast a full-year profit, reflecting year-earlier charges that won’t be repeated in the current period. Profit was $1.5 million in the six months ended Dec. 31, from a loss of $27.1 million a year earlier, when it recognised impaired asset …

New Zealand shares fell, easing the NZX 50 Index from a 5-year high, as a key measure of China’s manufacturing missed estimates and the local market subsided after a month-end flurry. Fletcher Building and Telecom fell. The NZX 50 fell 2.01 points, or 0.04 percent, to 4317.98. Within the index, 18 stocks fell, 25 rose and seven were unchanged. Turnover …

The New Zealand dollar is heading for a 1.2 percent weekly fall against the greenback as weaker than expected Chinese manufacturing added to a souring mood among investors looking for reasons to sell. The kiwi traded at 82.71 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 82.77 cents t 8am, down from 83.15 cents yesterday. The trade-weighted index decreased to 75.78 …