Australia's live animal export trade is once again under a harsh spotlight amid claims that cattle are being bludgeoned to death with sledgehammers in Vietnam.

Trade Minister Tim Groser said he was not aware his last name had been turned into a verb: "Grossing".

The dollar fell as the greenback strengthened following better-than-expected US housing data.

There's been another fall in world dairy prices, with the GDT index down to its lowest level since August 2009.

Lydia DePillis asks if all the secrecy around the Trans-Pacific Partnership is really worth the price.

Producer input and output prices fell in the first quarter, reflecting lower fuel costs and weakness in prices of meat and dairy products.

The New Zealand dollar declined as the greenback strengthened on optimism the US economy will rebound.

New Zealand shares rose yesterday, paced by Genesis Energy, Contact Energy and Mighty River Power in a relief rally as Meridian Energy's instalment came due.

The New Zealand dollar fell on speculation that potential developments could give the bank more room to cut interest rates.

Wool auction volumes are set to increase next week as farmers who have been holding out put their bales on the market.

Hillary Clinton has fallen silent on the TPP, an interesting departure from her statements as the nation's top diplomat.

Retail sales boomed in the first three months of the year, in what may be an early sign of the "wealth effect" with rising house prices boosting confidence.

Share trading platform Unlisted is applying for an exemption from the Financial Markets Authority.

McVitty Properties has completed its liquidation, leaving creditor BNZ with a shortfall of about $2.6 million.

The NZ dollar advanced against the US stoking speculation the Federal Reserve will delay hiking interest rates.

The dollar weakened after the Reserve Bank governor reiterated the currency was "unjustified and unsustainable".

The Reserve Bank has singled out the New Zealand dairy sector as an "area of risk" for the financial system.

Graeme Hart's Rank Group confirmed it plans to sell down its stake in Carter Holt Harvey in an initial public offering.

The NZ dollar touched 92.82 Australian cents, its lowest level since late January, as traders price in rate cuts.

Fonterra will late this month release its milk price forecast for 2015/16 and indications are that it will be towards the lower end of market expectations.

A crackdown on tradies' cash jobs is yielding "outstanding" results, says the tax department.

Much of the suspicion around the TPP agreement is fundamentally misconceived says international lawyer Gary Born.

The kiwi touched 74.23 US cents, and was trading at 74.43 cents at 8am in Wellington, from 74.99 cents at 5pm yesterday.

Shares of Heartland New Zealand rose after coming out of a trading halt as Quadrant Private Equity sells its 9 per cent stake in the bank.

Z Energy posted a 10 per cent increase in full-year operating earnings, as fuel and refining margins improved and the service station chain sold more fuel.

The kiwi dropped yesterday after data showed annual wage inflation in the private sector slowed to a 0.3 per cent pace in the three months ended March 31.