A surge in apparel spending has boosted New Zealand's total electronic card sales figures for the third month in a row, however this growth is likely to slow, according to economists.

The number of mortgagee sales has jumped nationwide in the past quarter as worsening economic conditions and lower dairy payouts hit parts of provincial New Zealand.

Milk powder prices will need to improve substantially before Fonterra's revised farmgate milk price of $3.85 per kg of milk solids can become a reality, say analysts.

Fonterra lacks people who understand the impact of new and disruptive technologies, writes Keith Woodford.

CBL Insurance has appointed a new director and is understood to be forging ahead with plans to carry out a stock exchange listing this year.

National Australia Bank has lifted its quarterly cash profit 9 per cent to A$1.75 billion after a fall in bad debts offset the effect of tough competition among lenders in Australia.

New Zealand shares edged lower yesterday as investors waited for reporting season to get under way. Auckland International Airport and Nuplex Industries fell.

Briscoe Group boss Rod Duke is continuing to talk tough on his firm's plans to acquire Kathmandu, despite his offer being rejected by the retailer's board last week.

New Zealand's listed companies are expected to present solid results to the market in the coming months but analysts are predicting cautious outlooks.

About 7000 Auckland residents have successfully challenged their 2014 property revaluations - and the most common outcome has been a fall in the home's CV.

Investors should pay close attention to a company's outlook, sales and profit growth and debt position when it comes to its result, says the chairman of the Shareholders' Association.

Haggling seems as much a part of car shopping as the test drive. But Lexus is plotting to get rid of it.

Contact Energy has said goodbye to Australian shareholder Origin and signalled a revision of its dividend policy which will be welcomed by shareholders.

Gold futures have fallen for the second time in three days amid mounting speculation that the US Fed will raise interest rates.

Wall Street fell overnight amid concern about the outlook for worldwide economic growth and corporate profits.

Consumers appear set to pay 15 per cent more for nearly all foreign products bought online.

Hinds County bucked the trend when it netted US$6.7 million in an interest rates swap deal with a New York derivatives dealer.

Microsoft has agreed to invest about US$100 million ($152 million) in Uber Technologies at a valuation of around US$50 billion, a source says.

Sleep disorder device supplier Resmed will acquire Curative Medical in a move it says will give it a leadership position in the Chinese market.

It's time to call Beijing's stock-market intervention what it really is: quantitative easing, Chinese style, writes William Pesek.

Highly regarded grandson of Sir Winston took over leadership of company after its business name was tarnished in the UK.

In Stock Takes today, the NZ dollar's slump against the greenback bodes well for a number of NZX-listed exporters, notably Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

The British-based threadmaker announced the sale of its Europe, Middle East and Asia crafts unit for US$10 million ($14.95 million) in February.