Simon Hartley

Chatham Rock Phosphate, whose marine consent application was rejected by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) last week, is regrouping, having gleaned more cash from shareholders and indicating it wants to persevere with its project.

Bellwether Steel & Tube has turned in a strong half-year result, its acquisition of Tata Steel International Australasia underpinning a 22% revenue boost and 35% gain on after-tax profit.

The global plunge in crude oil prices has resulted in explorer and producer New Zealand Oil and Gas booking a half-year loss, after an asset-value write-down of its offshore Tui oil field.

Fletcher Building's New Zealand operations underpinned a small revenue gain for its half-year result, but $66 million of goodwill impairment charges and site closure costs dragged down its after-tax profit, from $154 million last year to $114 million.

Eexpectations of house price gains increased in recent months to hit almost 60%, just short of the 2013 peak of 63%.

Fourth-quarter retail sales were higher than expected, as households made the most of cheap credit, declines in fuel costs and fierce competition and low prices offered by retailers.

Three-quarters of a million dollars is now the record average asking price for an Auckland home, with the Central Otago Lakes district running second highest in the country at $700,000.

Listed South Port has booked record volumes across its Bluff wharves for the first half of the trading year, underpinning a record after tax profit and bright outlook for the remainder of the year.

Fonterra has lodged a formal bid to buy 20% of one China's major infant formula companies for an unspecified amount.

The Christmas holiday season appears to have taken its toll on New Zealand's manufacturing sector, which figures show slumped to its lowest overall rate since December 2012.