Latest NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion suggests the post-election bounce in business confidence was short-lived. Business confidence is waning in the face of weak demand. Worse, all this is coming without relief in inflation. Cost increases over the last three months remained high, and expectations ticked higher again this quarter. Adjusting: Under-fire milk processor Synlait reduced the size of its senior leadership team by two at the end of February (from 10 to 8). Today it announced who were filling the roles that were changed. Downgrade: Standard&Poor's today lowered its financial strength and ... (full story)