Costamare told investors it purchased secondhand container ships, including the Rena, at a good time and is making a yield of 32 per cent on them.

Stocks and the euro sank as comments by Germany's finance minister doused hopes a summit later this month would resolve Europe's debt crisis.

Almost 2000 protesters plan to occupy Auckland's Aotea Square for the next six weeks.

World markets rose overnight after intervention by the Bank of England and the European Central Bank eased fears about the European debt crisis.

World share markets have rallied overnight as the Greek parliament approved a new property tax.

New Zealand financial markets markets were in a holding pattern today after Europe's debt woes sparked a wave of selling around world last week.

Equities sank after the most powerful central bank chief in the world came out guns blazing but fired blanks ahead of a speech by US President Barack Obama.

US shares rebounded overnight, as investors applauded signs on both sides of the Atlantic that government fiscal problems are getting solved.

Wall St was mixed overnight as investors mostly welcomed data showing US business activity and factory orders accelerated more than expected.

Consumer and business confidence in Europe and the US has been hammered this past month, unsurprisingly, and yet stocks are mixed on Wall St.

Better-than-expected US consumer spending and a deal to merge two top Greek banks helped bolster investor optimism overnight.