Wellington, March 1 NZPA - Stock exchange operator NZX nearly quadrupled net profit in 2009, and this year will launch its derivative market, representing "a fundamental turning point in the profile and prospects for the NZX Group".

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - Contact Energy says electricity retail prices need to rise, after reporting flat underlying earnings for the six months to the end of December.

Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - The Companies Office, Securities Commission, and the NZX Disciplinary Tribunal could be merged into a new market conduct regulator because the existing agencies failed to protect investors from finance companies collapses, Commerce Minister Simon Power said today.

Wellington, Feb 18 NZPA - The Government says it is considering merging parts of the Companies Office, Securities Commission, and the NZX Disciplinary Tribunal into a new market conduct regulator.

Wellington, Feb 16 NZPA - Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee is being accused of avoiding questions by not speaking at an energy conference in Auckland today.

By Chris Ormond of NZPA

Wellington, Feb 8 NZPA - Fitch Ratings expects proposed investments by Transpower to lead to a deterioration in the national grid operator's credit profile, unless the Government is willing to inject more equity.

Wellington, Feb 5 NZPA - The New Zealand sharemarket slid lower on opening today, after a sharp overnight fall on Wall Street.

Wellington, Feb 1 NZPA - A green friendly hydro-electric power scheme on the West Coast has won resource consent. Hydro Development Ltd (HDL) said it had received a formal decision on its Stockton Plateau hydro scheme allowing the company to harness tributaries of the Ngakawau River.

By Maggie Tait of NZPA Wellington, Jan 28 NZPA - Green Party founder and former co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons has been packing boxes for weeks before announcing her resignation today.