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Chinese investors, who return to trading after a four-day break, may be the key to sentiment this week and whether global equities will remain volatile. China’s stock markets were closed last Thursday and Friday for ceremonies to mark the end of World War II. Ahead of the resumption of trade, People’s Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said the rout …

Chinese interests may be close to acquiring 50 percent of Silver Fern Farms, in a deal that would increase the dominance of New Zealand’s biggest meat exporter and erode farmer control of the industry, say shareholders pushing for a merger with Alliance Group. Dunedin-based SFF has been seeking a $100 million capital injection to strengthen its balance sheet before banking facilities expire in October …

By Tina Morrison Sept. 4 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand wool is trading at record high prices, pushed up by strong demand and limited supply, though the outlook is murky. The price for clean 29-micron wool changed hands at a record $10.45 a kilogram at yesterday’s North Island auction, up from $9.95/kg at the previous North Island auction on Aug. 13, according to …

New Zealand firms grew even gloomier in August as falling commodity prices and a lack of inflation looks set to keep profits down, and have scaled back their intentions to take on new staff or invest in their business. A net 29 percent of firms were pessimistic about the general economic outlook over the coming year, deteriorating from a net …

The Inland Revenue Department is proposing to introduce a withholding tax on foreign buyers of residential property from July next year as part of the government’s plans to crackdown on speculators. The tax department is proposing to implement the tax, which would require an amount to be withheld on the sale of residential property, to support the introduction of the …

The Bank of New Zealand is increasingly concerned the economy is grinding to a halt following today’s confirmation in the ANZ Bank Business Outlook survey of slumping business confidence. “As each day passes, the likelihood of our alternative scenario, of an economy stumbling to near-recession, increases,” said head of research Stephen Toplis in analysis released at much the same time as …

The New Zealand dollar fell after figures showed business confidence sank to a six-year low this month, stoking speculation the Reserve Bank will be prepared to make deeper cuts to interest rates to revive an economy showing little sign of accelerating inflation. The kiwi fell to 64.21 US cents as at 5pm, in Wellington, from 64.53 cents at the New York close on …

Allied Farmers posted an 88 percent drop in annual profit after an overhaul of the business increased the firm’s tax bill, and as its profitable livestock unit was held back by the slowing dairy sector. Net profit attributable to shareholders dropped to $128,000, or 0.12 cents per share, in the 12 months ended June 30, from $1.02 million, or 1.03 …

Landcorp Farming, which is taking on debt to convert former forestry land into dairy farms, won’t pay a dividend this year, highlighting the friction between the state-owned farmer’s long-term strategy and the government’s demand for regular payments in preference to investment. New Zealand’s largest corporate farmer posted an 84 percent decline in annual profit to $4.9 million, in line with its forecast of $1 million …

New Zealand’s trade deficit was smaller than expected in July as exports of fruit and meat drove overseas sales higher, and offset flat dairy export receipts. The trade deficit narrowed to $649 million in July from $943 million a year earlier, and was smaller than the $755 million shortfall predicted in a Reuters poll of economists. Exports climbed 14 percent …