The New Zealand dollar was higher against the US dollar after business confidence improved in December. The kiwi traded at 68.48 US cents at 5pm in Wellington from 68.02 US cents at 8am and 67.91 cents yesterday, The trade-weighted index was at 74.86 from 74.38 yesterday. The New Zealand dollar got a lift when the ANZ business outlook survey for December showed a net 24.1 per cent of firms surveyed expect general business conditions to deteriorate in the coming 12 months versus 37.1 per cent in November. Business confidence has plunged since the Labour-led government was formed in October last year and implemented a ... (full story)