The board of trans-Tasman cleaning group Spotless has relented on its $A2.80-a-share demand to recommend a sale to Australia’s Pacific Equity Partners at  9 cents lower.

Woolworths, which has about 40% of New Zealand’s supermarket sales, lifted revenue by 2.9% at its Countdown-brand stores in the third quarter of the financial year.

Aucklander Simon Henry has made a $A24m bid for industrial waste recycler Hydromet Corp, saying the target's board has been stingy with dividends and too generous with its own fees.

Insured Group, the Australian insurer which used Lombard Group for a backdoor listing on the NZX, is now looking to delist from the NZX as it seeks to raise capital in Australia.

UPDATED 4.30pm: The largest new listing in years has a strong first day. Telecom (now ex Chorus) also rises, but less so.

Qantas shares rose 5% on the ASX this morning.