Infant formula and health supplement firms are taking a sharemarket pounding today.

The companies have signed a scheme implementation agreement, which values Nuplex at $5.55 a share.

Could newly listed health supplements maker Oceania Natural be benefiting from the Blackmores effect?

The NZX is expected to announce plans for a new milk futures contract tomorrow, which will be aimed at picking up where Fonterra's controversial guaranteed milk price scheme left off.

The shares will be listed on the NZX main board and Australia's ASX on May 3.

The mood was upbeat at NZX's Auckland offices yesterday as the third addition to the new NXT board, food supplements maker Oceania Natural, went public.

Shares in Oceania Natural rallied after the supplement maker became the third company to list on NZX's new NXT market.

An executive reshuffle at ikeGPS will see the departure of the developer's chief financial officer and senior vice-president of sales.

20 shareholders in VistaGroup International will sell about a quarter of the company's stock to institutions and retail brokers at a 6.3 percent discount.

Property developers John and Michael Chow have reduced their holding in Chow Group as part of their efforts to meet NZX listing requirements.

New Zealand shares rose, following international markets, with ANZ Banking Group, Genesis Energy and SkyCity Entertainment Group leading the index.

Auckland Airport hit an impressive milestone this week as its market capitalisation sailed across the $8 billion mark for the first time.

Adult entertainment and property investors strike deal for troubled builders.

This week marks the seven-year anniversary of this bull market. In March 2009, the S&P500 share market index in the US bottomed at a closing level of 677 points.

The Serious Fraud Office has ended its three-year contract with Wynyard a year early because the software could not deal with some of its accounting documents.

Wynyard Group has signed a $3.3 million contract with a consulting and risk management firm as it finalises rights offer.

Our sharemarket's biggest company, Auckland Airport, is proving somewhat of a conundrum to analysts, investors and fund managers.

Wynyard Group says a planned share placement is no longer viable and is considering other capital raising options including a rights offer.

Shareholders are being told to vote against a takeover bid for the technology company.

Businessman Peter Huljich and entities linked to him are set for a $26 million pay out if the Diligent Board Member Services takeover goes ahead.

Nuplex has been in secret talks with one of its rivals and says it has received a good offer.

Australasian infant formula stocks have proved a pretty good bet lately.

Veritas Investments shares plunged 42 per cent after the food and beverage investor downgraded its outlook for earnings and nixed a first-half dividend.

New Zealand shares fell following oil-driven weakness in US and European markets, with Nuplex Industries and Sky Network Television while Air New Zealand rose.

If you need to sell shares or are about to retire and need to calculate your superannuation payout, then even a few weeks fall in prices may start to look like a serious bear, writes Michael Rafferty.