Midday Report for Wednesday 3 September 2014

12:35 PM.News from the rural and farming sectors. Audio

12:26 PM.The New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson is to have his contract extended for a further two years. Audio

12:24 PM.For the latest from the markets we're joined by Campbell Johnstone at Macquarie Private Wealth. Audio

12:23 PM.Wellington's premier department store, Kirkcaldie & Stains says it expects to report a full year, pre-tax loss from its retail business of just over 1-million dollars. Audio

12:22 PM.Auckland's largest real estate agent is blaming the general election for a fall in sales, prices and listings of new houses available for sale, in August. Audio

12:20 PM.New Zealand's largest banks, institutions and companies are turning to overseas wholesale markets to borrow, rather than raising debt at home. Audio

12:19 PM.The New Zealand dollar fell to its lowest level against the US dollar in six months, after global dairy prices fell a further 6 percent in last night's auction. Audio

12:17 PM.With wholesale dairy prices continuing their steep decline, an economist is now suggesting Fonterra's milk payout to farmers this year could be about 5-dollars-50 a kilo of milk solids. Audio

12:00 PM.The family of a second American hostage killed by militants are grieving and CCTV footage of the Ashburton shooting accused is handed to police. Audio