Stock market operator NZX has reported an 18 per cent rise in normalised net profit to $11.7 million in 2010, with a "distinct" rise in revenue in the final quarter.

The New Zealand dollar has fallen to a near six-month low on a trade-weighted basis.

Nuplex Industries will pay $3m to shareholders as part of a settlement with the Securities Commission after failing to disclose it breached a debt covenant in 2008.

Investors flocked to oil and gold on world markets overnight amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with violence in Libya gathering steam.

Contact Energy is to spend $623 million building a new 159 megawatt geothermal power plant.