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.

Drought in much of the country is helping to drive dairy prices higher, but farmgate prices for beef and sheepmeat are weakening.

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.

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.

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.

Kiwi energy company Powershop is expanding its Australian market before targeting Europe and Asia next year.

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".

People who try to predict the short-term direction of financial markets are usually wrong, writes Paul Glass.

NZX chief executive Tim Bennett says demand is looking solid for small and medium-sized sharemarket listings, but a potential downturn in market conditions could affect the environment for initial public offerings in the year ahead.