The Government's accounts plunged further into the red in the four months ending October but there is a hint of good news, contained in Treasury figures released yesterday.
Defensive investment strategies had proved the best performers in a period of financial turmoil, according to a FundSource KiwiSaver survey.
Labour Party finance spokesman David Cunliffe yesterday used the release of the Government's accounts to renew his attack on Finance Minister Bill English's handling of the economy.
Finance Minister Bill English has been quick to blame the previous Labour government for the fact he needs to borrow an average of $250 million a week. Labour, for its part, blames National's tax cuts for the need to borrow so much.
Investors do not appear to be reacting significantly one way or another to the ongoing industrial action being undertaken by some workers at The Warehouse.
Dunedin-based sharebroker Forsyth Barr last night won the inaugural People's Choice KiwiSaver Communications Award at the Workplace Savings New Zealand awards.
The Reserve Bank of Australia yesterday decided to continue lessening the degree of monetary stimulus it had put in place, while, at the same time, the Bank of Japan looks likely take further steps to support the Japanese economy.
The worst concerns about the size of Dubai's financial problems appeared to have eased yesterday, Forsyth Barr broker Tony Conroy said.
Economic news has been put aside as markets again focus on financial risk.
Hanover Finance directors have, not surprisingly, unanimously recommended that all classes of investors vote in favour of the Allied Farmers proposal which will see Allied take over the assets of the troubled finance company.
Methven Group beat its forecasts yesterday, when it reported an operating profitof $8.5 million for the six months ended September, down 11.5% from $9.6 million reported in the previous corresponding period.
In a frank interview, Labour's deputy leader Annette King admits to Dene Mackenzie the party must do much work to reconnect with disenchanted voters before the next election.
Dunedin tax specialist Scott Mason is warning tax-dodgers that a decision by the Taxation Review Authority has wide implications for many people in Otago.
Asian and Pacific investors today face uncertainty in their sharemarkets as Dubai's debt crisis raises fears that global economic recovery from recession could be stalled.
Tower Ltd yesterday reported a profit after tax ahead of market expectations and celebrated by increasing its final dividend by a cent to 9c a share.
South Canterbury Finance chief executive Lachie McLeod appears to be another casualty of recent troubles for the high-profile finance company.
Finance Minister Bill English yesterday started softening New Zealanders up for some more bad economic news which he is already blaming on the previous Labour government.
Sir Ron Brierley's company, Guinness Peat Group, could be the well-known and "trusted company" that was said yesterday to be in the running to bid for the assets of Hanover and United Finance.
Australian financier Resimac Ltd was yesterday named as the new investor in Allied Farmers, as the Taranaki-based company continues with its ambitious expansion plan.
Several changes are expected before Christmas to the companies included in the NZX-50 index which is traditionally tracked by many index funds.
