NZ shares rose to a fresh record yesterday, paced by Mighty River Power, Meridian Energy and Genesis Energy as investors mulled possible lower interest rates across the Tasman.

An alarming decline in food production at British farms will leave shoppers at the mercy of prices and quality elsewhere in the world, warns a UK farming report.

Woolworths will funnel more than A$500 million ($516 million) into improving sales as it lags further behind supermarket rival Coles.

Growing global market opportunities and the need to strengthen supply chains are creating a thirst for capital among agricultural co-operatives around the world, rural lending specialist Rabobank said.

China's central bank has cut the country's official cash rate for the second time in three months - a move which highlights concern about the economic slowdown of New Zealand's largest trading....

Investors in property syndicates formerly run by SPI have been told to close ranks to the media.

The results for the six months to December 2014 has been fairly lacklustre, with one notable exception, Brian Gaynor writes.

Fonterra chief financial officer Lukas Paravicini rejects the notion that the co-operative is playing safe in keeping this season's farm gate milk price forecast at $4.70 a kilogram of milksolids.

Judging by the barometer of hedge-fund interest, there's less to get excited about in gold these days.

Tourism Holdings, the largest campervan rental business in Australia and New Zealand, more than doubled first-half profit, beating expectations, after cutting costs and fattening margins.

MediaWorks Investments has returned to profitability in its first 10 months under a new capital structure, and its radio business was the biggest contributor to earnings.

New Zealand shares rose yesterday, paced by Chorus as its first-half earnings met with market expectations. Xero rose to a four-month high as a seller exited the stock.

Fonterra's board will have reason for cautious optimism when it meets tomorrow to review its farmgate milk price forecast for 2014/15.

The falling dollar has helped to offset declining export log prices, says AgriHQ.

Food giant Sanitarium appears safe from a Government crackdown on charities that has some sporting bodies worried they may lose their charitable status.

Paul Little last week learned Japan Post was making a takeover bid for Toll Holdings, and the bid valued his shares about A$110 million more than they were worth earlier in the day.

New Zealand jetpack maker Martin Aircraft Company will become a publicly traded firm when it lists on the Australian stock exchange tomorrow.

Just over one month since its last downgrade of Moscow's credit rating, Moody's said Russia "is expected to experience a deep recession in 2015 and a contraction in 2016".