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GLOBAL MARKETS:  It was a rather lacklustre overnight session for markets. A positive start from yesterday’s sentiment that the US fiscal negotiations would be sewn up by Christmas faded as senior Democrat spokesperson, Chris van Hollen said they are “not close to a deal”. Republican US House Speaker John Boehner echoed similar sentiment, saying there had been “no substantive progress” on …

Underlining just how much in thrall of Washington global financial markets are right now, US stocks and the euro sold off after U.S. House Speaker and senior Republican John Boehner said there had been “no substantive progress” in talks to avoid the fiscal cliff. Boehner made the comments after speaking with President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, saying there …

Underlining just how much in thrall of Washington global financial markets are right now, US stocks and the euro sold off after U.S. House Speaker and senior Republican John Boehner said there had been “no substantive progress” in talks to avoid the fiscal cliff. Boehner made the comments after speaking with President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, saying …

“Third time lucky,” said Fonterra’s Henry van der Heyden triumphantly as he was awarded Chairperson of the Year at the 2012 Top 200 Awards last night in Auckland. Van der Heyden’s award could not have been more exquisitely timed as it came on the eve of the Fonterra Shareholders Fund debut on the NZX at noon today.  The Fonterra chairman said …

Somewhere between launching Paypal and rockets to Mars, Elon Musk found time to become Business Insider’s Businessperson of the Year for 2012.

It seems that Time magazine may be the latest to fall victim to an internet sabotage campaign. When selecting their Person of the Year for 2012, Time Magazine opened up the voting to the public to help their editors in making their selection. The notorious 4Chan, a well known internet message board known for its public stunts, begun “Operation: Kim Jung …

Peter Jackson speech at Hobbit World Premiere in Wellington, NZ November 28, 2012. Introduction of producers, writers, cast. Includes video message from Sir Ian McKellen.

The New Zealand dollar gained against its Australian counterpart after official figures showed business investment is slowing in Australia, which could be a key factor in its central bank interest rate decision next week. The kiwi rose to 78.75 Australian cents from 78.56 cents yesterday. It traded at 82.41 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 82.34 cents at 8.30am, …

Japanese car brands at the Guangzhou auto show admit to difficult sales in China in a year which has seen violent protests over territorial disputes with Japan in the South and East China seas. Other foreign brands report growing sales in the world’s biggest car market

By Brierley Penn Food quality and security is becoming an increasing priority for Indonesia’s rapidly expanding middle class. This provides great potential for New Zealand firms to meet the growing demand in this market, particularly if they are able to differentiate themselves through the integrity of their products. It also creates a further opportunity to move up the value chain …