Trading halted for pair in laboratory dispute

Trading has been halted in shares of the Australian owners of two Auckland pathology laboratories involved in a court dispute, at the companies' request.

Sonic Healthcare, owner of Diagnostic Medlab Limited (DML), said it requested the halt pending a New Zealand court's decision on a case over a pathology services contract. The court decision is due later today, the company said.

Trading in the shares of Healthscope, owner of Labtests Auckland, was also halted pending an announcement.

DML lost a $560 million contract last year to the consortium led by Healthscope Limited, Australia's second largest private hospital operator.

- NZPA