Midday Report for Thursday 9 October 2014

12:35 PM.News from the rural and farming sectors. Audio

12:26 PM.The Breakers are giving Alex Pledger as long as possible to prove his fitness for tomorrow night's National Basketball League season opener against the Wildcats in Perth. Audio

12:24 PM.For the latest from the markets we're joined by Angus Marks at First NZ Capital. Audio

12:21 PM.An activity indicator suggests the pace of economic growth probably slowed in the September quarter. Audio

12:20 PM.The total number of electronic card transactions fell by 0.2 percent in September, with core retail spending down 0.4 percent. Audio

12:19 PM.IkeGPS says it has signed an important technology development agreement with a United States company that provides technolgy advice to the US intelligence community. Audio

12:17 PM.Xero's first-half sales jumped 79 percent, although its growth in customers in the United States was disappointing. Audio

12:00 PM.Andrew Little throws his hat in the ring for the Labour leadership and another serious dog attack, this time in Auckland. Audio