19 Feb 2015

Business Briefs

1:42 pm on 19 February 2015

Producer prices have fallen, due to lower dairy prices.

Official figures show the producers price input index fell 0.4 percent in the three months to December, compared with the previous quarter.

In turn, the prices producers charged customers fell 0.1 percent.

Statistics New Zealand said lower prices received by dairy manufacturers and paid to dairy farmers are the main contributors to the declines.

Job ads fall

Job advertisements have fallen.

The ANZ Bank's monthly survey found seasonally adjusted job advertisements decreased 1.1 percent to 37,038 in January, compared with the previous month.

On an annual basis, job adverts rose 6 percent. Internet advertisements rose, but newspaper adverts fell heavily, though ANZ expects a rebound in February.

Goodman Fielder takeover given final tick

Goodman Fielder said its takeover by Wilmar International and the First Pacific Company has received the final regulatory approval from New Zealand's Overseas Investment office.

The only hurdle remaining before the $A1.3 billion takeover can be completed is a vote by shareholders on 26 February.

Fed ponders rate decision

Minutes from a meeting of the Federal Reserve reveal policymakers are concerned that raising interest rates too soon could pour cold water on the US economic recovery.

At the January meeting, officials noted that China's economic slowdown and tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine pose downside risks to the growth outlook.

The Fed said a decision on interest rate rises depends on economic data.