Midday Report for Tuesday 22 December 2015

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

12:26 PM.The New Zealand Cricket captain Brendon McCullum will this afternoon announce his retirement from international cricket. Audio

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

12:21 PM.A new peer-to-peer lending platform aimed at small to medium-sized businesses and car buyers sees big potential in an increasingly crowded online lending space. Audio

12:20 PM.The rate of growth in online retail sales has picked up leading into Christmas with a 14 percent increase in overall sales in November compared with last year. Audio

12:19 PM.Well-known outdoor clothing and goods retailer, Macpac, is being taken over by an Australian private equity firm, Champ Ventures. Audio

12:18 PM.Shares in the Auckland-based drugmaker, AFT Pharmaceutical, have had a strong debut on the New Zealand stock exchange, trading at a 14 percent premium to their issue price. Audio

12:00 PM.Shell New Zealand has just announced the sale of a major asset in in this country and The International Energy Agency has dramatically revised downwards its forecasts for the demand for coal. Audio