Does this morning's big jump in world dairy prices mean an increased payout for farmers? There might be a long way to go.

Silver Fern Farms, the country's biggest meat processor, says its is forming a 50/50 joint partnership with Chinese investors.

Prices are expected to rise at this week's GlobalDairyTrade auction but doubts remain as to how much further improvement is in store.

Wholemilk powder prices, which are key to determining Fonterra's farm gate milk price, rose by 12.1 per cent to an average US$2078 a tonne at the last auction on September 2.

Fonterra is cutting back the amount of product it sells on its GlobalDairyTrade auction platform for the next 12 months.

As many others recoil, Europe's greying powerhouse Germany senses opportunity.

Business Editor Liam Dann and Herald senior journalist Jamie Gray on the implications of today's Reserve Bank decision to cut interest rates.

Low world dairy prices aren't stopping the NZ industry - production was up 13pc last month from July last year.

The August corporate reporting season is now largely complete, aside from a few stragglers that have slightly different balance dates.

The country's trade deficit was smaller than expected in July as exports of fruit and meat drove overseas sales higher.

When nurse Sara Jones' paid parental leave ends eight weeks from now, she and husband Gareth face a serious dilemma.

Investment bank says there is a 25 to 30 per cent risk of New Zealand's economy going into recession in the next 12 months.

Wholemilk powder prices rallied by 19.1 per cent at this morning's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

Finance Minister Bill English won't rule out state farming company Landcorp having to sell more farms than usual to ensure it is not too loaded with debt.

Have you heard the one about the New Zealand sheep that flew to Saudi Arabia? Of course you have, but chances are your eyes glazed over, writes Toby Manhire.

Our senior business leaders are becoming increasingly concerned about the slowing economy, the Government's strategy and our reliance on China and dairy exports.

Downbeat economic commentary continued to flow yesterday, with Westpac saying it expects New Zealand's annual GDP growth to dip below 2 per cent, while ANZ's Truckometer is pointing to a clear....

Milk powder prices will need to improve substantially before Fonterra's revised farmgate milk price of $3.85 per kg of milk solids can become a reality, say analysts.

Fonterra lacks people who understand the impact of new and disruptive technologies, writes Keith Woodford.

New Zealand's listed companies are expected to present solid results to the market in the coming months but analysts are predicting cautious outlooks.

$4.55 swing in forecast milk price paid to farmers over two seasons shows there's something wrong with NZ's dairy model, says Landcorp Farming CEO Steve Carden.

The country's biggest exporter has lowered its price from a previous forecast of $5.25 following sharp falls in whole milk powder prices.

Paparimu dairy farmer Craig Maxwell says farmers are worried about the survival of their farms.

A drop in the price of milk on supermarket shelves could be in store for New Zealanders - but not anytime soon, says supermarket chain Countdown.

Fonterra is expected to announce a sharp reduction in its farmgate milk price today.

DairyNZ says New Zealand milk production is expected to fall by 2 or 3 per cent this season as farmers focus on improving the efficiency of their farming systems.

Whole milk powder prices have dropped to their lowest level since 2008, putting more downward pressure on Fonterra's farmgate milk price forecast and reinforcing the market view that the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates twice this year to partly compe

Whole milk powder prices - key to determining Fonterra's farmgate mik price, dropped by 10.3 per cent overnight.

The ANZ Commodity Price Index for July fell 11.2 per cent to the lowest level since October 2009.