Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Residential property sales last month were closer to 2009 levels after in January reaching their lowest level in nearly two decades, Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) figures show.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - The Reserve Bank left the official cash rate (OCR) unchanged at a record low 2.5 percent, but economists noted it is no longer "comfortable" with the inflation outlook.

Wellington, March 11 NZPA - The Reserve Bank today left the official cash rate at 2.5 percent and indicated it may begin removing the stimulus to the economy in the middle of 2010.

Wellington, Feb 26 NZPA - ANZ New Zealand, New Zealand's largest bank, is encouraged by a lift in profit in the December 2009 quarter compared with the September quarter, in line with the emerging economic recovery.

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - The Lombard Group, the parent of failed Lombard Finance, will go to its shareholders this week with details of a reverse takeover deal that could see it 98.5 percent owned by the shareholders of Perth-based insurer Australian Consolidated Insurance.

Wellington, Feb 23 NZPA - Confidence in the New Zealand housing market, which recovered in 2009, is showing signs of softening again, according to a survey of the three months to January.

Wellington, Feb 19 NZPA - The New Zealand residential property market recovery is looking a little unconvincing in a report by Mike Pero Mortgages. The Mike Pero Mortgages-Infometrics Property Cycle Indicator (PCI) fell slightly to positive 5.23 in January, from 6.67 in December.

Wellington, Feb 15 NZPA - New Zealand's workforce is being hit by "premature ageing" and needs to boost its numbers, says a Waikato University researcher.

Wellington, Feb 11 NZPA - The residential property market lost momentum in January, according to Real Estate Institute of New Zealand data seen by economists.

Wellington, Feb 9 NZPA - A rebound in home building consents is expected to continue in coming years, but in a new report industry analyst BIS Shrapnel says the cycle will peak at a lower level of activity compared to the last peak in 2004.

Wellington, Feb 8 NZPA - State-owned Kiwibank is cutting its variable mortgage rate by 14 basis points to 5.65 percent and hiking its 18 month fixed rate by 10 basis points to 6.49 percent.

Wellington, Feb 4 NZPA - New Zealand major banks are crawling out of the recession gloom despite bad debt expenses and costs related to an Inland Revenue dispute.

Wellington, Feb 2 NZPA - The Wellington housing market is the only one gaining momentum as the rest of the country continues to hold steady, according to a property market analysist's December figures.

Wellington, Jan 29 NZPA - With local authority rates rising last year at three times the rate of inflation, a business-oriented lobby group says ratepayers expect more frugality from councils this year.

Wellington, Jan 29 NZPA - New Zealanders are choosing to purchase goods and services by way of hire purchase or personal loan rather than a credit card, according to the latest data from credit company Veda Advantage.

Wellington, Jan 28 NZPA - Bank economists are divided on when the Reserve Bank will next hike the official cash rate (OCR), and by how much, after Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard kept the rate at 2.5 percent today.

Wellington, Jan 28 NZPA - Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard, as widely predicted, has left the official cash rate (OCR) at 2.5 percent today.

Wellington, Jan 28 NZPA - The Reserve Bank left the official cash rate at 2.5 percent in its first monetary review for 2010 today.

Wellington, Jan 21 NZPA - Using scissors and a photocopier to make fake documents has led to home detention and community work for a mortgage broker.

Wellington, Jan 20 NZPA - The Tax Working Group has recommended a range of comprehensive tax changes including a method of taxing capital gains on residential rental properties.

Wellington, Jan 7 NZPA - Housing continued to become more affordable in the three months to the end of November, according to Massey University, but there are signs the improving trend could be nearing an end.

Auckland, Jan 1 NZPA - The Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand sees the New Year as a fitting time to highlight the country's emerging new leaders.

Wellington, Dec 30 NZPA - Setting a financial goal as a New Year's resolution will put you in charge of your money and your life, the Retirement Commission says.

Wellington, Dec 24 NZPA - A $2.2 billion stocking filler tax settlement is something of a win-win for both the Government and the country's four main banks on the eve of Christmas, says a banking academic.

Wellington, Dec 24 NZPA - Central Otago's historic Kingston Flyer steam train has failed to sell.

Wellington, Dec 23 NZPA - The Government is moving on with its plans to help leaky home owners and it is up to councils whether they participate or not.

Wellington, Dec 18 NZPA - A measure of home loan affordability shows almost no change overall in November, although affordability worsened in Auckland and Northland and for first home buyers.

Wellington, Dec 16 NZPA - Westpac economists taking a stab at the impact of possible tax changes on house values reckon the decline could be as high as 34 percent.

Wellington, Dec 10 NZPA - The Reserve Bank left interest rates unchanged, but its comments surrounding the decision were more hawkish than many economists expected.

Wellington, Dec 10 NZPA - Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has left official interest rates unchanged at 2.5 percent, but is now indicating the first rate rise could be as soon as the middle of 2010, and looks to be giving himself even more flexibility.