Dene Mackenzie

The amalgamation of the ANZ and National Bank brands was inevitable but looked to be an expensive exercise, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms said yesterday.

Apple has sailed into uncharted territory for the world's biggest company.

Dunedin International Airport Ltd has celebrated its 50th year in style, with an increase in passenger numbers, revenue, shareholder funds and dividends paid.

Wellington investment company Rangatira has continued its strategy of taking a stake in early-stage high-growth companies by investing $3.5 million in Konnect, an Auckland-based service company.

Greymouth will bear the brunt of the job cuts announced yesterday by Solid Energy as the coal producer mothballs Spring Creek mine because of the unaffordability of maintaining its development.

Dunedin businessman Jonathan Mirkin has grand plans for Nomos, his start-up company which is set to launch on October 1 with six New Zealand law firms as foundation clients.

Sir Michael Leigh, who was knighted in January for his services to the European Union, has just completed a tour of New Zealand's universities. He spoke to business editor Dene Mackenzie about the prospects of progress in the euro cash crisis.

Troubled Fairfax Media has been downgraded to a sell by Craigs Investment Partners with a break-up of the media group raised as a possibility.

Auckland has been renowned in recent years for some of its mayors dividing the community and for their eccentricities. In recent times, large-scale transport projects have hogged the headlines, with ongoing debate whether funding should come from the Government or ratepayers.

Short stories are not to the taste of every reader but a book written by Zane Lovitt is well worth investigating.

Inflation will still have to remain between 1% and 3% but incoming Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler will have a few more demands placed upon him when he takes up his new position next week.

Restaurant Brands yesterday reported some encouraging increases in sales but details around the margins associated with those sales will remain hidden until the company's next financial report.