Stocks on Wall Street were mixed as investors awaited a fresh reason to extend the rally, while commodities including oil, gold and copper were boosted on hopes that Chinese demand would remain strong.

Cellphone entrepreneur tries again, with venture targeting emerging markets.

Lending to customers at New Zealand's banks grew by a meagre 0.7 per cent in the second half of their financial year, a new report shows.

Tourism Holdings said it won't meet full-year profit guidance because forward bookings have been hit by the spate of floods and storms in Australia and softening tourism demand locally and in the UK.

Housing lending fell in December, month-on-month, for the first since Reserve Bank records began.

The RWC will add about $700m to the NZ economy over its six weeks and if NZ wins it could boost general confidence, Alan Bollard says.