Top Business Stories for Tue, Mar 03

Top business stories from nzherald.co.nz for Tue, Mar 03:

NZX down 2.6pc after Wall St hits 12-year low
New Zealand shares have tumbled more than 2.6 per cent today after stocks in the United States plunged to 12-year lows overnight.

Pike River Coal forced into $45 million share issue by rock fall
A rock fall deep underground in Pike River Coal's new 108-metre ventilation shaft has forced the company to go to the market to raise $45 million despite a "difficult" global economy.

Refinanced Hart on the lookout for packaging buys
Billionaire Graeme Hart has refinanced $3.5 billion in debt and is looking to expand his global packaging business.

Hands off that $62 million - it belongs to my wife: Madoff
Bernard Madoff is seeking to keep a $7 million Manhattan penthouse and an additional $62 million in assets, saying they are unrelated to the fraud that authorities say cost victims more than $50 billion.