NZ businesses still optimistic as building work buoys mood

NZ businesses still optimistic as building work buoys mood
Paul McBeth
By Rebecca Howard Dec. 19 (BusinessDesk) – New Zealand business confidence rose a tad in December, led by an upbeat construction sector although tighter credit conditions continued to weigh.    A net 21.7 percent of firms were optimistic about the general outlook for the economy in December, up from 20.5 percent of firms a month earlier, the ANZ Business Outlook survey shows. A net 39.6 percent saw their own activity expanding versus 37.6 in November. “The construction sector is the most optimistic and manufacturing the least, but all...