NZX

Trading on the NZX's cash markets rose by more than 24% in December but brokers are also reporting a strong start to 2013 as investors continue to look for income from their money.

Rakon, once the market darling of the NZX, is shifting more of its operations offshore and up to 60 of its 430 New Zealand workers are likely to lose their jobs.

The importance of bringing new companies to the NZX is growing quickly, as another New Zealand-listed company appears likely to leave soon.

Investors punished NZX shares yesterday after the share-market operator issued a disappointing first-half forecast downgrade.

An NZX requirement for listed companies to disclose their gender diversity has been welcomed by Dunedin sharebroker and director Noeline Munro.

The NZX is facing a busy year ahead, with one state-owned enterprise pegged for partial sale, possibly in September, and shares in the world's largest dairy co-operative Fonterra likely to be traded.

The age of austerity has caught up with some of the country's most powerful bosses and for the first time in the eight years of the Business Herald executive pay survey the value of the average chief executive pay packet has dropped.

Fonterra is appointing NZX to operate the Fonterra Shareholders Market as part of Trading Among Farmers.

Shares in recently-separated Telecom and Chorus dominated trade in a relatively quiet day on the NZX yesterday, with no particular reason obvious for the interest in either company.

NZX Dairy Futures describes the achievement of 5000 lots traded as a "significant milestone" in the growth of the global dairy risk management tool.