Dene Mackenzie

Listed infrastructure company Infratil was trading at a discount of nearly 20% to its underlying value, sharebrokers said yesterday.

The BNZ confidence index has surged to a record high, with 67.7% of 469 respondents optimistic about the future of the economy compared with a net 45% in October and a net 57% in September.

Janet Yellen's confirmation hearing before the Federal Banking Committee this week has been tipped as a significant event for financial markets.

Chorus chief executive Mark Ratcliffe yesterday hit back at critics calling for the price of access to the company's copper network to be substantially cut.

Alliance farmer shareholders will not receive a distribution from the meat company this year as it continues to rebuild its balance sheet.

The fiasco over access to Chorus' copper wire network may deter overseas investors from spending their money on NZX-listed companies they see as at risk of regulation, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms says.

Chorus received a double blow yesterday when rating agencies started taking an interest on the infrastructure company's credit rating.

Investors saw social media and mobile as sweet spots and it was no surprise Twitter's initial public offering had created so much excitement and was oversubscribed, Ovum principal analyst Eden Zoller said yesterday.

Urgent action by the Government is needed to protect the investments of more than 30,000 New Zealanders in infrastructure company Chorus, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms says.

There was little upside for beer brewer Moa Group shares in the near-term, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms said yesterday.

Beer brewer Moa Group has warned its full-year 2014 loss could reach $6 million, well above an estimated $4.5 million provided in a research note on October 21.

Westpac New Zealand lifted its cash earnings 9% to $770 million for the year ended September, the latest of the ''big four'' banks to report an increased profit.

With the first anniversary of Trading Among Farmers (TAF) approaching, Craigs Investment Partners broker Greg Easton believes investors are well served taking a cautious approach to Fonterra.

A higher labour force participation rate for the three months ended September is expected to reflect more jobs becoming available, while more Kiwis return from Australia where they are not eligible for benefits.

Angel investor Basil Peters spent the first half of his career as an entrepreneurial chief executive. He tells business editor Dene Mackenzie his focus is now on how entrepreneurs and angel investors exit transactions.