Dene Mackenzie

Spark was well positioned for long-term success, chairman Mark Verbeist said yesterday when announcing an improved operating profit for the year ended June.

The NZX reported operating earnings down 8% for the six months ended June as a result of a $1.6million increase in Ralec litigation costs.

Because of changes to the household labour force survey (HLFS), meaningful comparisons with preceding periods cannot be made, ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says.

The delay until this morning of New Zealand's June quarter employment data has left a few commentators scratching their heads about what to expect.

Spark New Zealand picked a good time to release its formal objection to the planned Sky Television and Vodafone merger, citing Sky's monopoly on premium sports content rights as a main concern.

The share price for retirement village operator Summerset Group rose after the announcement of an improved profit in the six months ended June.

Contact  Energy reported a full-year result in line with expectations and an indication it was getting on top of its retail issues, Forsyth Barr broker Damian Foster said yesterday.

Investors will face an uncertain financial environment after the Reserve Bank cut its official cash rate to 2% yesterday  and indicated further cuts will be needed.

Dunedin meat processor Silver Fern Farms is battening down the hatches as it prepares for the special meeting this afternoon to rehash its joint venture with Shanghai Maling.

SkyCity reported a 14% improvement in its 2016 normalised earnings but the result failed to impress brokers, who were expecting better from the casino operator.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters yesterday continued his pressure on Silver Fern Farms as the Dunedin meat processing company prepares for its special meeting tomorrow.

ASB yesterday reported an improved profit but increased its loan impairment expense by 46% to $130million as it continues to monitor the dairy sector.

Uprgraded guidance was the key item of note in the Property for Industry first-half financial result released yesterday, Forsyth Barr broker Lyn Howe said.

Tourism continues to be the key driver of spending as growth in annual hospitality spending reached 16%.

SkyCity is expected to report a strong full-year result tomorrow, as its recent 10-month trading update pointed to strong growth across the business.

It  must be apparent to all New Zealanders the country was too dependent on China, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said yesterday.

The share prices of major Australian banks continued to offer good value, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms said.

Samsung is next week planning to release its most innovative smartphone to date, with a bigger screen, longer-life battery and a range of other features. Business editor Dene Mackenzie asks Samsung...

The Bank of England has cut interest rates to next to nothing, making a cut to New Zealand’s official cash rate next week as certain as as anything can be in financial markets.

The loyalty of  fuel customers is heating up,  Z Energy having relinquished its supermarket docket relationship and going it alone with Fly Buys.