July 12 – Start-up software company Diligent Board Member Services’ shares jumped 4.2% ahead of it reporting second quarter sales tomorrow.

The shares rose 5 cents to $1.25. The shares showed a similar flurry upwards ahead of its first quarter sales report in mid-April and continued rallying as high as $1.30 ahead of the first quarter profit announcement but then drifted down to $1.01.

The stock was the best performer on the NZX last year, surging 152%, and it has climbed almost 74% since the start of 2011.

Diligent’s first quarter sales rose 70% to just below US$3 million. Its n

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This morning, the markets have bounced back from earlier lows of fears of the Euro debt crisis have exploded as the market has turned its eyes toward Italy, the EU’s third largest economy. Yields on bonds in both Italy and Spain have risen dramatically, and while though not quite at Greek or Portuguese levels, this is a serious development.

Right now there is tug-of-war taking place between the perceived risk taking place in the EU, and the markets here in the US. S Read more…

July 8 – Finance Minister and Facebook page-owner Bill English didn’t get the presumably intended answer when he asked visitors to the page whether they supported the Labour Party’s proposal for a capital gains tax.

When last looked, at 4.15 p.m., 314 people had voted 88% in favour of a capital gains tax.

Only 40, or 13%, of those had voted against it.This may indicate unexpected support among economic rationalist National Party supporters for the proposal to slap a 15% tax on all appreciating capital assets other than the family home.

The issue has arisen because it is a central plank of the Opposition Labour Party’s election manifesto, leaked to the media though not officially to be announced until next Thursday, by Labour leader Phil Goff.

The Green Party has consistently advocated a capital gains tax, but such a change by Labour represents a monumental political shift. A preva

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The winners of the Candyman DVD and Jelly Belly jellybean giveaway from last week are:

• Jim Klymus of Pet Food & Treats
• Juanita Reynolds

Congratulations to both of you!

Kids may not show much interest in math and science in a traditional setting, but Camp Invention puts a whole new spin on the idea. The camp was created to help inspire children to open their minds and become innovators, reports Bonner County Daily Bee.

“The main mission here is to get kids interested in science,” said Bob Parker, inventor of the digital thermometer, battery charge tester and other thermal-oriented technologies.

It’s a good thing, then, that about 80 first through sixth-graders get plenty of education amidst all the fun. The k

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Bruce Wills has been elected as the new president of rural lobby group Federated Farmers at its annual meeting in Rotorua today.

The leadership vote, the first to be contested in 15 years, sees Wills assume the helm from Don Nicolson who is stepping down from the position he’s occupied since 2008. Nicolson was elected unopposed.

Wills won out against for other candidates who put their names forward for the position, which included South Canterbury high-country farmer Donald Aubrey, Frank Brenmuhl of Christchurch, and Lachlan McKenzie of Rotorua, the body’s dairy spokesman.

Wills had previously served as president of Federate Farmer’s Hawkes Bay chapter.

His election today will be followed by the selection of a vice president, with William Rolleston of Timaru, David Rose of Invercargill, and Stewart Wadey of Matamata, vying for the post. The r

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Over the weekend, Euro-zone finance ministers agreed to finalize a new Greek bailout package by mid September and to disburse a further 12 billion euros, according to a Greek finance ministry statement.

“The 17 euro zone ministers agreed that the fifth tranche of a 110-billion-euro bailout agreed with Greece in May 2010 would be paid by July 15, as long as the IMF’s board signs off when it meets on July 8,” reports Jan Strupczewski and Luke Baker for Reuters.

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