Global financial markets continue to worry about the likelihood of the United States Federal Reserve beginning to taper off its money-printing efforts, which have been undertaken to generate economic growth, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms says.
Electricity Authority chairman Brent Layton lashed out yesterday at critics of the current electricity arrangements, but Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said in doing so he crossed a political divide.
Canterbury continued to dominate the latest building statistics released yesterday but economists say the rest of the country is ''ticking along nicely''.
Paying for online news content will become the new normal as newspaper publishers follow global trends seen in mature markets by building digital paywalls, a report out this morning says.
Another Australian-based contact centre business is being established in New Zealand, with about 30 staff already employed and working from their homes in Bluff, Invercargill, Wanaka and centres further north.
The Government's financial position continues to improve, although Crown gross debt remains stubbornly high, the Treasury figures released yesterday show.
The Government is expecting dividends from state-owned energy companies to improve, once Meridian and Genesis joins Mighty River Power on the NZX, Finance Minister Bill English says.
One of New Zealand's leading tax practitioners has called the Inland Revenue Department's phone system a ''complete abomination'' and is calling for a return of face-to-face consultation time with IRD staff.
High dairy prices helped push the country's terms of trade measure up in the three months ended March, with economists now predicting the measure will spike 7% in the June quarter.
New Zealand's interest rates could stay lower for longer as Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler considers intervening further in the currency market to try to reduce the kiwi's value.
The plan by New Zealand-listed Ebos to acquire Australian company Symbion was likely to be well received by investors as the combined group would have great resources available for growth, Craigs Investment Partners Chris Timms said yesterday.
New Zealanders are continuing to spend on fast food, with Restaurant Brands reporting a nearly 4% increase in sales in the 12 weeks ended May.
The Green Party is continuing with its scare tactics over the Government's plans to sell off more state-owned energy companies, referring to the decision to sell off Meridian Energy in two parts as a failure.
Tower shareholders reacted well yesterday after it reported its interim profit and group managing director Rob Flannagan talked about the new direction for the insurance company.
The partial sell-downs of Meridian and Genesis Energy will proceed, with Meridian to be listed later this year but no date put on the Genesis listing.
The Rakon balance sheet needed urgent resolution after the full-year 2013 loss was deeper than expected, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms said yesterday.
Nearly $500 million will be released into the economy as Fonterra farmer shareholders elect to sell some of their wet shares into this month's supply offer.
Investors are being warned that unsolicited offers are again being made to shareholders of listed companies to buy their shares for much less than market value.
Fonterra's first forecast for the 2013-14 dairy season, due tomorrow, is expected to add momentum to the New Zealand economy, Westpac economist Doug Steel says.
New Zealand's April trade surplus looked ''a bit wretched'' at $157 million compared with market expectations of $515 million, BNZ senior economist Craig Ebert said yesterday.
