Reports of share trading by directors and managers of listed companies often cite the reasons, such as the need to meet a tax bill, or the fact that it follows a black-out period imposed by the company.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/opinion-insiders-trade-their-peril-p-200056

New Zealand has closed the gap on Hong Kong and Singapore as the countries with the greatest economic freedom. The annual rankings of third, first and second respectively remain the same as last year. But New Zealand's 2.1-point gain to 83.7 compares with Hong Kong’s 1.2-point rise to 89.8 and Singapore’s 0.8 gain to 88.6.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/editors-insight-nz-improves-economic-freedom-score-remains-third-world

An analyst has raised the prospect of insolvency for Cavalier if the carpet maker doesn’t deliver on its promise to return to earnings growth in 2018. Cavalier chief executive Paul Alston has said the rationalising of his company’s manufacturing, its spinning plants and scouring operations, as well as its heavy investment in marketing, should start to pay off in the year beginning July.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/can-cavalier-deliver-analyst-raises-insolvency-question-jr-p-200065

Growth expectations from New Zealand’s small businesses are at a record high, according to CPA Australia’s 7th annual Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/hold-hurecord-number-kiwi-small-companies-expecting-grow-survey-shows-fr-p-200054

Two broad factors, one economic and one political, are pushing Prime Minister Bill English’ comments about drug use affecting the ability of New Zealanders to get jobs.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/drugs-skills-and-immigration-nationals-difficult-balancing-act

Competition lawyer Andy Matthews says the Spark-Netflix hookup could actually play into Sky and Vodafone’s hands. “Will Vodafone and Sky's ‘plan B’ be a deeper contractual relationship [with each other] and could Spark's actions give them more reason, or an excuse, to do that?” he says.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/spark-netflix-deal-could-backfire-lawyer-ck-p-200068

Villa Maria chief winemaker Nick Picone says the next few weeks' weather will determine the quality of this year's vintage.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/grape-harvest-enters-critical-period-summer-extremes-wane-ng-p-199999

Strip out the one-off elements and Vector’s first-half results were essentially flat.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/vector-forecasts-flat-annual-result-after-reporting-flat-first-half-outcome-jr-p-200019

Metlifecare’s share price has moved up about 3.6% to $5.80 after it released its highest half-year result yet. The price is still not as much as its 12-month high of $6.40 in September.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/metlifecares-share-price-rises-record-result-cs-p-200043

Briscoe Group managing director Rod Duke has sold out of a cosmetics company that has been embroiled in a costly legal case.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/duke-sells-out-cosmetics-companies-cg-p-200045