Dene Mackenzie

Aged care and retirement village operator Ryman Healthcare yesterday reported a better-than-expected profit for the six months ended September and celebrated by lifting its interim dividend.

Personal tax cuts are back on the agenda of Prime Minister John Key and his enthusiasm for the cuts appear to indicate they could be part of National's 2011 election manifesto.

The $130 million listing of DNZ Property Fund on the New Zealand Stock Exchange is likely to find favour with investors, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms says.

Debenture holders in Hanover Finance and Hanover subsidiary United Finance are being asked to take a leap of faith that Allied Farmers can eventually return the majority of their money.

The Otago-Southland service sector continues to struggle, although there was some improvement in sector activity in October, according to the latest BNZ Capital-Business New Zealand performance of services index.

Reports that house sales, prices and bank rates are rising will have buyers wondering how to finance a purchase. Business editor Dene Mackenzie looks at some options.

Structure investor Infratil sold its stake in Auckland Airport yesterday, booking a loss of about $53 million for which it blamed the previous Labour-led government.

AXA Asia Pacific shareholders should sit and wait for the inevitable higher offer from AMP as it seeks to buy AXA's Australian and New Zealand operations, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms said yesterday.

AXA Asia Pacific Holdings yesterday left the door open for a better takeover offer from AMP Ltd, after the board rejected an $A11 billion ($NZ14 billion) proposal.

There is no denying that things have been tough lately. Front-line managers have been squeezed to make cost savings. Leadership Management Australasia managing director Grant Sexton tells business editor Dene Mackenzie that employees have not hit the panic button.

The Government seems more determined than ever to remove some of the tax incentives that apply to residential property investment, Deloitte Dunedin associate tax director Peter Truman says.

Telecom defied the expectations of analysts by yesterday, reporting a 64,000 net increase in mobile connections on its ultra fast XT network, during the three months ended September.

Commerce Minister Simon Power says he is confident the new financial regime the Government is implementing will go a long way to address the shortcomings in the financial adviser industry.

The severe toll the recent recession took on New Zealand's labour market was confirmed yesterday when figures released showed that the country's unemployment level reached 6.5% in September.

The impact new mobile company 2degrees is having on Telecom mobile connection growth will be a main focus for analysts when New Zealand's largest listed company reports tomorrow.