RESEND: Woolworths' NZ supermarkets lift annual earnings 4.2% in 'subdued' conditions

RESEND: Woolworths' NZ supermarkets lift annual earnings 4.2% in 'subdued' conditions
(fixes percentage gain typo in first paragraph.)   By Paul McBeth Aug. 29 (BusinessDesk) - Australian supermarket chain Woolworths lifted annual earnings from its New Zealand Countdown stores 4.2 percent as it widened margins in what it called "subdued" trading conditions. Pre-tax earnings before one-off items rose to $309.8 million in the 52 weeks ended June 29 from $302.7 million in the 53-week period in 2013, the Sydney-based company said in a statement. Sales rose 1.6 percent to $5.74 billion from a comparable 52-week period, wh...