Equities slid overnight amid further signs of economic weakness in China, Europe and the US.

Shares in investment company Guinness Peat Group fell 5c in early trading following the removal of New Zealand-based Tony Gibbs.

US share prices were mixed as higher-than-estimated growth in construction spending and manufacturing offset a drop in energy shares.

People called Apple a flash in the pan - but Flash is on the way out and Microsoft just got passed by Apple in market capitalisation.