Equities on Wall Street began the final five-day trading week of the year on a positive note amid takeover news and optimism about the global economy.

Thirty staff at Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts Kawerau Sawmill are losing their jobs.

Falling fuel prices helped lift New Zealand's terms of trade 3 per cent in the September quarter.

Fonterra has this morning announced an increase in its payout forecast for the 2010/2011 season by 30 cents per kilo of milk solids to $6.90.

Eftpos company SmartPay has confirmed it is seeking an ASX listing.

A noisy crowd gathered in Auckland this morning to voice opposition to a proposed trans-Pacific free trade agreement.

NZ has warned other countries negotiating the TTP that they need to be cautious about intellectual property provision of any deal.

Concern about Europe's fiscal crisis was at the forefront of investors' minds again as they sold equities, the euro and European government debt.

A spokesman for the New Zealand Jewish community has defended the animal-killing practice of shechita.

Australian Ministers say the country has no choice but to accept they have lost the long-running bid to ban imports of New Zealand apples.

An Australian appeal to the WTO against a ruling it must accept our apple exports has failed.