UPDATE: Air NZ posts 7.4% decline in 1H pretax profit as fuel prices bite

UPDATE: Air NZ posts 7.4% decline in 1H pretax profit as fuel prices bite
Rebecca Howard
(Updates to add detail throughout, includes broker comment in paragraph 8, updates shares)  By Rebecca Howard Feb. 22 (BusinessDesk) - Air New Zealand posted a 7.4 percent fall in first-half pretax profit as rising fuel prices offset record high passenger revenue and after the prior period benefited from a one-off gain.  Pretax earnings fell to $323 million in the six months ended Dec. 31 from $349 million in the same period a year earlier, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. The prior period included a $22 million gain rel...