Contact Energy has delivered profits well ahead of analysts' expectations and is pleased with the result, despite its after-tax profit for the six months to December being down 0.3% at $78.8 million on last year's result.
Rising passenger numbers and a return on retail redevelopment are expected to be the feature of Auckland International Airport's (AIA) report on the half year to December, due out tomorrow.
Escalating violence in the Middle East and North Africa has prompted a surge in oil and gold prices.
This mirrors metals and food prices which rose around the world this week.
Dual-listed Bathurst Resources, which plans to mine two million tonnes a year of premium hard coking coal from its West Coast tenements, yesterday announced a deal with Westport Harbour for exclusive use of a coal-handling facility to ship and export coal.
The service sector nationally contracted slightly during January, and just remained in expansion mode for the start of 2011 - but Otago Southland fared poorly.
Carpet manufacturer Cavalier Corp has delivered an increased after-tax profit, up 22% to $8.5 million for the six months to December, largely underpinned by improved sales in Australia.
Tough trading conditions and below average wholesale electricity prices are expected to feature in Contact Energy's financial results for the six months to December, due out tomorrow.
The proposed Heartland bank - which is to apply for a banking licence mid-year - is confident it can fund most its lending from its New Zealand retail deposits and not have to use offshore markets.
Family-owned Hellaby Meats Butchery in Kaikorai Valley closed yesterday after more than 30 years of operation, with the loss of 18 jobs.
The receivers of Pike River Coal say unsecured creditors owed more than $31 million - including $15 million to tradesmen and almost $3 million to employees - are "unlikely" to be paid.
Jeweller Michael Hill International has delivered a 7% after-tax increase in profit to $23.8 million for six months, with improved sales across all its 237 outlets in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the scaled-back, underperforming United States operation.
Otago-Southland continues to lead the way in regional manufacturing performance, which nationally booked a fourth consecutive month of expansion last month.
Fletcher Building has delivered an increased after-tax profit of 8% to $166 million for its half-year to December and boosted shareholder dividends, but the good news was tempered by news that the construction company's expected returns from rebuilding Christchurch might occur next year.
Regions around the country appear to have run out of economic puff during the three months to December, with 10 of the 14 areas experiencing a decline in economic activity.
Shipping giant Maersk is backing Port Otago's more than $100 million proposal to widen and deepen shipping lanes into Port Chalmers for larger ships, but has reiterated it can give no assurances on future services.
East Otago-based Oceana Gold has, for the second time in a year, upgraded its overall estimated gold reserves, further extending the estimated "life of mine" to eight years.
Fletcher Building is expected to deliver an increased after-tax profit of about 20% - between $160 million and $185 million - and a dividend boost, when it reports its half year to December result today.
Sir Ron Brierley-founded investment company Guinness Peat Group - with its $1.28 billion investment portfolio - has announced a capital return plan to investors this year of at least $158 million.
Record cargo volumes up more than 30% have underpinned a strong first-half trading performance for listed South Port, with its after-tax profit up 66% to $2.9 million.
An ACC claimant is suing the New Zealand Police, serving Dunedin police officers and a private investigator over what he claims was an "unlawful and unreasonable" search of his home in 2006.
