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NZ dollar falls on weak dairy auction, stronger greenback

The New Zealand dollar fell after prices for the nation’s largest commodity export declined in the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction overnight. The kiwi weakened to 77.91 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 78.76 cents at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index dropped to 78.25 from 78.71 yesterday. Dairy product prices slipped to a fresh five-year low in the latest fortnightly auction, because of a drop in …

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Dairy product prices hit lowest level since August 2009

Dairy product prices slipped to a fresh five-year low in the latest GlobalDairyTrade auction, because of a drop in whole milk powder. The auction follows figures showing New Zealand’s terms of trade fell from a 40-year high in the third quarter, led by an 11 percent drop in prices of exported dairy products. In November, New Zealand commodity prices fell …

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NZ dollar little changed vs. Australian dollar after RBA talks down currency

The New Zealand dollar was little changed against its trans-Tasman counterpart after the Reserve Bank of Australia kept its key rate at a record low, while saying a weaker currency was desirable to foster balanced economic growth. The kiwi traded at 92.53 Australian cents at 5pm in Wellington from 92.65 cents immediately before the release, and 92.45 cents yesterday. It …

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RBA says Australian dollar near 4 1/2-year low needs to fall further

The Reserve Bank of Australia said its currency, near a 4 1/2-year low, remains over-valued and needs to decline further to assist the economy across the Tasman, which is growing at a moderate pace. The central bank kept its cash rate unchanged as expected at a record low 2.5 percent, where it has been since August 2013. Governor Glenn Stevens issued a statement …

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MARKET CLOSE:NZ shares rise, led by Chorus after Comcom draft, Spark drops

New Zealand shares rose, led by Chorus, after the Commerce Commission lifted the amount the network operator can charge on its regulated copper lines. Spark New Zealand fell on the regulator’s decision. The NZX 50 Index edged up 0.413 points, or 0.01 percent, to 5430.035. Within the index, 24 stocks rose, 19 fell and seven were unchanged. Turnover was $146 million. In a draft determination issued this …

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Japanese investor interest in NZ plumps up Nikko funds

Nikko Asset Management New Zealand, the local subsidiary of the Japanese investment firm, said funds under management topped $4 billion for the first time as the country’s relatively high yields on offer in a low-interest-rate world attracted foreign investors. The local fund manager has increased its assets under management by 14 percent in the past 12 months, aided by the lure of …

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Enprise narrows 1H loss as it reduced costs

Enprise Group, the accounting software reseller which debuted on the NZAX yesterday, narrowed its first-half loss as its Australian unit turned to a profit and it reduced costs. The Auckland-based company’s loss narrowed to $79,000 in the six months ended Sept. 30, from $110,000 in the same period a year earlier, it said. Sales slipped 3.1 percent to $3.4 million, while …

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Commodity prices fall for ninth month in November, led by milk powder

New Zealand commodity prices declined for the ninth consecutive month in November, to the lowest level since February last year, as milk powder prices fell to five-year lows. The ANZ Commodity Price Index dropped 1.6 percent to 286.3 last month, 12.4 percent lower than its reading the same month a year ago and the lowest for a November month since 2012. Skim …

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