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BusinessDesk

Independent, Trustworthy New Zealand Business News

The Wellington-based BusinessDesk team provides a daily news feed for a serious business audience.

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Email - editor@businessdesk.co.nz

BusinessDesk - Latest News [Page 1445]

NZ dollar falls on weaker consumer and business confidence

Monday, 19 December 2011, 5:25 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – The New Zealand dollar fell after surveys showed weaker consumer and business confidence, and as equity markets across the Asia Pacific region continued the sell-off triggered by the threat of more European credit rating downgrades. More >>

Lamb numbers stay low, but high prices also stay: Westpac

Monday, 19 December 2011, 5:17 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand lamb is expecting its second smallest season in 55 years, while Australia’s flock is expected to rise by 5.4% this year. More >>

All kiwi workers want for Christmas is a pay rise: report

Monday, 19 December 2011, 4:15 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealanders want a payrise this Christmas, with two thirds of employees saying their salary doesn’t accurately reflect performance while half expect more money in 2012. More >>

SMELLIE ON SMEs: Hang on tight for a tough year ahead

Monday, 19 December 2011, 2:22 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – Unless you run a motel or a beachside cafe, you’ll be looking forward to a few quieter weeks and a bit of a rest before what looks likely to be another rather difficult year to be in business. While there are some positive ... More >>

NZ business confidence slips as global ‘storm’ looms

Monday, 19 December 2011, 1:56 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand business confidence slipped in December, though profit expectations rose in a mixed bag of results from National Bank’s Business outlook survey, suggesting the nation in is relatively good shape as it faces “the ... More >>

GE Money to pay $60k after admitting to Fair Trading breach

Monday, 19 December 2011, 1:22 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – GE Money, the consumer finance company ultimately owned by General Electric, will make a $60,000 donation to the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services after admitting to a breach of the Fair Trading Act. More >>

Midday update: Confidence heads in opposite directions

Monday, 19 December 2011, 12:06 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – The fickle state of the economy was writ large this morning with the release of two widely watched confidence indicators, for consumers and the services sector, showing completely contradictory outcomes. Confidence among New ... More >>

NZ Dollar Outlook: Kiwi may gain on GDP; Euro clouds linger

Monday, 19 December 2011, 11:46 am | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – The New Zealand dollar may rise week, with gross domestic product data expected to show a pick-up in economic growth, providing a counterpoint to the looming threat of further credit rating downgrades in Europe. More >>

NZ services sector expands in November on new orders, sales

Monday, 19 December 2011, 11:24 am | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand’s services sector expanded last month, led by new orders and sales, which were both at their highest levels since March 2010. More >>

Vital Healthcare pays A$13M for Mayo hospital in Australia

Monday, 19 December 2011, 10:58 am | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) - Vital Healthcare Property Trust has paid A$13 million for the Mayo Private Hospital and Healthcare Centre in Taree, New South Wales, its manager said. More >>

Insurer to fund directors’ defence costs post-Bridgecorp

Monday, 19 December 2011, 10:54 am | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – One insurance company is taking a punt it will be able to recoup pay-outs made to company directors who fail to defend court claims against them. More >>

NZ consumer confidence tumbles, signalling gloomy Christmas

Monday, 19 December 2011, 10:47 am | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – Consumer confidence in New Zealand tumbled in the fourth quarter to the lowest level since the depths of recession in 2009 in the face of increasingly gloomy new from Europe and the fading effects of the Rugby World Cup. More >>

NZ dollar holds at 76 cts as rating threat looms over Europe

Monday, 19 December 2011, 9:04 am | BusinessDesk

Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – The New Zealand dollar held above 75 US cents after Fitch Ratings lowered France’s rating outlook to negative and put six other European nations on review, citing Europe’s failure to find a “comprehensive solution” ... More >>

BayWa’s T&G bid meets independent valuer’s range

Friday, 16 December 2011, 6:05 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 16 (BusinessDesk) – BayWa AG’s $137.4 million bid to takeover Turners & Growers falls within the independent valuer’s range, prompting independent directors of the fruit marketer to recommend shareholders sell their holdings. More >>

MARKET CLOSE: NZ shares fall on Nuplex profit warning

Friday, 16 December 2011, 5:54 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 16 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand shares fell after Nuplex Industries said it wouldn’t meet earnings guidance, stoking concerns more companies will suffer as Europe’s debt woes help slow global growth. Sanford rose after the fishing company ... More >>

Mild pick-up expected in next week’s economic growth numbers

Friday, 16 December 2011, 5:20 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 16 (BusinessDesk) – Most economists think the New Zealand economy grew a little faster in the third quarter, driven by spending related to the Rugby World Cup and a pick-up in manufacturing, though the latter may reflect a build-up in inventories ... More >>

NZ dollar extends gains as Asian stock markets rally

Friday, 16 December 2011, 5:09 pm | BusinessDesk

Dec. 16 (BusinessDesk) – The New Zealand dollar extended gains through the local trading session as investors snapped up higher-yielding, riskier assets, with equity markets up across Asia after a strong Spanish bond auction eased fears about another ... More >>