Low dairy prices have continued to weigh heavily on farmer sentiment, according to Rabobank's Rural Confidence Survey.

Regulatory niggles facing exporters and an upgrade to NZ's free trade agreement with China will be among the issues discussed at a trade forum in Beijing this week.

Does this morning's big jump in world dairy prices mean an increased payout for farmers? There might be a long way to go.

It will put Silver Fern Farms in a strong position, writes Fran O'Sullivan. But that won't stop the emotion over the injection of Chinese ownership into a company that other players were endeavouring to keep NZ controlled.

Silver Fern Farms says $261m Chinese input will help meat processor forge ahead with a growth strategy.

Silver Fern Farms, the country's biggest meat processor, says its is forming a 50/50 joint partnership with Chinese investors.

Trade Minister Tim Groser says he remains 90 per cent certain that TPP talks will be successfully completed later this year.

Prices are expected to rise at this week's GlobalDairyTrade auction but doubts remain as to how much further improvement is in store.

Study says $11.84 billion of New Zealand GDP is at risk from a host of man-made and natural threats during the next decade.

Whole milk powder prices, which are the key to determining Fonterra's farmgate milk price, rose by 12.1 per cent to an average US$2078 a tonne.

Fonterra's move to cut the amount it sells on its global dairy auction appears to have worked.

New Zealand's terms of trade unexpectedly rose in the second quarter as a slide of almost 10 per cent in the Kiwi dollar helped lift prices of exports such as dairy products.

More than half of New Zealanders appear to have made up their minds already about whether the Trans Pacific Partnership is a good or bad thing.

New Zealand is prepared to fight for "the principles of trade" in its beef battle with Indonesia, says our ambassador to the Southeast Asian nation.

The country's trade deficit was smaller than expected in July as exports of fruit and meat drove overseas sales higher.

Australian steel products group Bluescope is to review its steelmaking operations in Australia and New Zealand, saying it needs "game-changing" savings in operating costs.

Investment bank says there is a 25 to 30 per cent risk of New Zealand's economy going into recession in the next 12 months.

Seeka Kiwifruit Industries's profit gains reflected record kiwifruit volumes, the company said.

The true extent of swamp kauri being sent overseas has been revealed - with exports jumping by more than 2500 per cent in five years.

Wholemilk powder prices rallied by 19.1 per cent at this morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Solid Energy acting chairman Andy Coupe admitted it was "unlikely" that any sale, or sales, would cover its outstanding debt.

Our senior business leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about the slowing economy, the Government's strategy and our reliance on China and dairy exports.

Fonterra lacks people who understand the impact of new and disruptive technologies, writes Keith Woodford.

The US beef cow herd is expected to grow by more than three million head in the next three to five years.

The protest group set up to halt wharf extensions is upset at being excluded from a study into the wider impact of the ports on the city.

New Zealand's listed companies are expected to present solid results to the market in the coming months but analysts are predicting cautious outlooks.

Genesis Energy announced its last two coal-burning electricity generators at Huntly Power Station will be shut down.