Latest FromMeridian Energy Ltd
![Meridian pencils in $625m capital return](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Meridian pencils in $625m capital return
Meridian Energy has raised its dividend and says it intends to return $625 million of capital to shareholders over the next five years.
![Meridian earnings up, capital return possible](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Meridian earnings up, capital return possible
Meridian Energy, which generates about 30 per cent of the country's electricity, lifted first-half earnings 21 per cent.
![Power shares lead fall in stock index](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Power shares lead fall in stock index
New Zealand shares fell yesterday, led by Contact Energy after it flagged plans to invest offshore. Genesis Energy and Meridian Energy declined as enthusiasm for the sector cooled.
![Dividend payers lead NZ market down](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Dividend payers lead NZ market down
New Zealand shares fell yesterday from a record close paced by Meridian Energy, Precinct Properties New Zealand and Spark New Zealand, as the appetite waned.
![Sharemarket heads back up after slide](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Sharemarket heads back up after slide
New Zealand shares rose yesterday, heading back towards a record high after a two-day slide.
![Meridian to replace faulty transformers](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Meridian to replace faulty transformers
Meridian Energy is replacing two of its transformers at its Manapouri power station after finding a fault with cooling units.
![Second day of falls for NZ shares](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Second day of falls for NZ shares
New Zealand shares fell for a second day as the kiwi dollar's slide to a four-year low sapped overseas investor appetite for high-yielding stocks.
![Hunt for yields drives shares to record](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Hunt for yields drives shares to record
New Zealand shares rose to a new record close yesterday as holidays in Auckland and Australia kept trading volumes light.
![Close eye kept on storage lakes](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Close eye kept on storage lakes
Hydro lake levels are falling and wholesale power prices rising as drought threatens in parts of the country.
![Geothermal powers ahead of gas](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Geothermal powers ahead of gas
Geothermal has pipped gas generation for the first time as more plants come on stream.
![Retail electricity margins unsustainably high - broker](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Retail electricity margins unsustainably high - broker
Power companies' margins on retail electricity tariffs are unsustainably high, says a new report on listed NZ electricity stocks.
![Profit takers drive NZX 50 lower](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Profit takers drive NZX 50 lower
New Zealand shares fell yesterday, paced by Meridian Energy, Contact Energy and Mighty River Power as some investors looked to crystallise recent gains.
![Meridian wind farm land on the market](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Meridian wind farm land on the market
Land bought by Meridian for its controversial $2b wind farm is on the market spelling the final chapter of the failed project.
![Sue Kedgley: Smart power meters a threat to health and liberty](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Sue Kedgley: Smart power meters a threat to health and liberty
Call me a Luddite, but I don't want a "smart" electricity meter installed at home, and certainly not without my knowledge or consent.
![Power giants surge $365m on election result](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Power giants surge $365m on election result
Investors in Genesis Energy, Mighty River Power and Meridian Energy were more than $600 million richer on paper at one point yesterday after their shares were boosted by National's decisive victory.
![Power companies gain as investors bet on National win](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Power companies gain as investors bet on National win
Investors in listed power companies appear to be betting the National Party will retain the government benches at Saturday's general election.
![Meridian raises dividend](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Meridian raises dividend
Meridian Energy has fattened its dividend and is hinting of a possible return of capital next year after beating prospectus forecasts in its first annual result.
![Mixed profits tipped for earnings season](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Mixed profits tipped for earnings season
Analysts have mixed views on the outlook for the upcoming earnings season as some of NZ's biggest and most widely held firms prepare to report their annual results.
![EECA Awards 2014: Meridian office wins green award](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
EECA Awards 2014: Meridian office wins green award
Meridian Energy's Wellington head office continues to win awards for its green credentials nearly seven years after it was completed.
![Liam Dann: Govt's selldown - marks out of 10](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Liam Dann: Govt's selldown - marks out of 10
The National Government's asset sale programme is complete but the debate about the process just won't go away.
![Treasury wanted more 'Mum and Dad' SOE investors](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Treasury wanted more 'Mum and Dad' SOE investors
The Treasury would have liked more "Mum and Dad" small investors to have bought shares in electricity generators Mighty River Power and Meridian Energy.
![Power firms wag fingers as costs soar](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Power firms wag fingers as costs soar
Households will be socked with power bill increases of as much as 24% next month and power firms and network operators are blaming each other over who is responsible.
![Brian Gaynor: Companies must lift earnings performance](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Brian Gaynor: Companies must lift earnings performance
The NZX will run out of steam unless companies, particularly the larger ones, can take advantage of the stronger economy, writes Brian Gaynor.