NZ business confidence gains in February as agri sector gets more upbeat

NZ business confidence gains in February as agri sector gets more upbeat
By Paul McBeth Feb. 27 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand business confidence improved in February as recent gains in dairy prices turned sentiment around in the agriculture sector, and as low interest rates stoke hiring and investment expectations. A net 34.4 percent of firms are optimistic about the general economy, up from 30.4 in the previous survey, according to the ANZ Business Outlook. That was aided by a turnaround in agriculture to a net 15.2 percent becoming optimistic, having previously been dominated by pessimists. Firms' own activi...