New Zealand shares rose on the first trading day of 2013, following gains on Wall Street, as investors drove up companies that have featured on broker lists for 2013, such as PGG Wrightson and Ryman Healthcare.

Business confidence has leaped 22 per cent on the same time last year.

For some beer aficionados, Lion's acquisition of Dunedin independent brewer Emerson's was beyond the pale ale.

New Zealand's sharemarket was dragged downwards yesterday as talks stalled in the United States over its looming "fiscal cliff".

Markets in this region yesterday shrugged off the threat of economic disruption from the looming "fiscal cliff" in the United States.

The number of sharemarket trades hit a record high in December capping off the best year for the New Zealand stock market since 2004.

It is said that Napoleon, on being told of the impressive attributes of a new general, asked, "But is he lucky?"

A sinking mine site and Treasury's caution on asset sales are at the top of this year's "Christmas dump" of public announcements, snuck in just ahead of the holidays.

This has been another testing year for New Zealand businesses as they rock along the decade of "grumpy growth".

Three stocks have the strongest backing from brokers in the 2013 broker picks.

House prices have hit new records in seven of the past 12 months, a review of the year in property shows.

And so this is Christmas, and what have you done, New Zealand business?

The face of New Zealand business changed over 2012 with a series of senior appointments made to some of the country's top jobs.

Veritas Investments chairman Mark Darrow says many opportunities exist for expanding the Mad Butcher retail chain.