Wellington, Oct 14 NZPA - Core retail sales, which exclude the vehicle-related industries, fell by a greater-than-expected 0.6 percent in August, leading economists to predict that interest rates will remain low.

Wellington, Oct 4 NZPA - ArborGen Inc, a tree propagation company whose operations once formed part of New Zealand forestry giants Fletcher Challenge and Carter Holt Harvey, has signalled an initial public offer (IPO) of shares in the United States.

Wellington, Oct 1 NZPA - Directors of Fidelity Life Assurance Company Ltd are recommending shareholders take no action this stage after insurer Tower Ltd said it will make an unsolicited cash and scrip takeover offer for all of Fidelity.

Wellington, Oct 1 NZPA - Insurer Tower Ltd has launched a hostile cash and scrip takeover offer for all of Fidelity Life Assurance Company Ltd, which values the target at $118 million.

Wellington, Sept 28 NZPA - The owners of the Yellow Pages Group have withdrawn from a plan to sell the business, which they bought for $2.24 billion more than three years ago, because they are unlikely to achieve a satisfactory price under current market conditions.

Wellington, Sept 27 NZPA - The new Auckland Council has effectively raised $350 million before it comes into existence on November 1.

Wellington, Sept 24 NZPA - Outdoor equipment and clothing chain Kathmandu is reporting a 14 percent lift in annual revenue to $245.8 million, following its listing last year.

Wellington, Sept 6 NZPA - Disaster plans for share brokers, as required by NZX, worked well in the aftermath of the 7.1 magnitude earthquake which struck the city at the weekend, says one leading Christchurch broker.

Wellington, Sept 6 NZPA - New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG) intends to buy back 8.5 million of its ordinary shares to boost its share price, which it says is "significantly below fair value".

Wellington, Aug 30 NZPA - The New Zealand dollar eased this afternoon as another sharp fall in business confidence was reported. The National Bank's Business Outlook report for August showed further signs of economic regression after recovery in the first half of this year.