By NZPA Political Reporters Wellington, May 22 NZPA - Finance Minister Michael Cullen has played what could be one of his last political aces and delivered tax cuts in his ninth budget today.

Criminal prosecutions against finance companies that have misled investors will be funded from the Securities Commission's litigation fund, Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel said today.

Wellington, May 21 NZPA - Criminal prosecutions against finance companies that have misled investors will be funded from the Securities Commission's litigation fund, Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel said today.

Wellington, May 21 NZPA - Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel this morning gave an impassioned plea for lenders owed money by people who invested in failed Blue Chip companies not to make demands until investigations are complete.

Wellington, May 20 NZPA - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns about disruptions to New Zealand's access to offshore funding, but says its sound banking system and focus on inflation would help cushion the economy.

Wellington, May 20 NZPA - Expectations of lower house prices in the next year have increased dramatically, the latest ASB housing confidence survey shows.

Wellington, May 16 NZPA - National says the Government's shared equity housing scheme has been announced several times before, while ACT has dismissed it as an election-year bribe.

Wellington, May 16 NZPA - The Government will spend $35 million on a two-year shared equity pilot to assist up to 700 households into starter homes, Housing Minister Maryan Street said in a pre-budget announcement this morning.

By Simon Louisson of NZPA Wellington, May 16 NZPA - Kiwibank today cut its key two-year mortgage lending rate for the second time in under a month. The state-owned bank cut its rate to 8.99 percent from 9.29 percent.

Next week's budget will deliver a mix of mild tax relief with investment and social spending as a tonic for the economic chills, Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. Dr Cullen said his ninth budget would deliver a "real response" to the economic situation.

Wellington, May 9 NZPA - ASB Bank today lowered some its key fixed mortgage lending rates after wholesale rates plunged yesterday following shock jobs data.

Wellington, May 9 NZPA - The Warehouse became the second major retailer this week to announce falling sales. While it is blaming at least part of its downturn on a warm start to autumn, like Briscoe Group on Wednesday it is also feeling the pinch from tight economic conditions.

By Simon Louisson of NZPA Wellington, May 7 NZPA - Alarm bells ringing at bellwether stock Briscoe Group may be a general warning for the economy.

By Simon Louisson of NZPA Wellington, May 7 NZPA - Economists said today even the Reserve Bank is getting nervous as economic alarm bells start to clang louder.

Wellington, May 7 NZPA - The Reserve Bank is taking steps to shore up financial system liquidity in case of fresh turmoil on world markets, even though its latest measures may never be used.

Mr Rudd attacked Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson and his treasury spokesman Malcolm Turnbull for downplaying the inflation challenge. Dr Nelson yesterday called the inflation challenge a "charade".

By Simon Louisson of NZPA Wellington, May 7 NZPA - Alarm bells ringing at bellwether stock Briscoe Group may be a general warning for the economy.

Wellington, May 1 NZPA - Westpac's first half net profit in New Zealand rose 12 percent to $244 million despite market volatility, but the bank predicted a decline in lending growth as the housing market slows.

Wellington, April 30 NZPA - NZF Group has reported a 44 percent drop in annual net profit to March. The finance company, which recently changed its name from New Zealand Finance Holdings, increased revenue by 17 percent to $45.8m.

Wellington, April 28 NZPA - Removing GST on food would make the system complicated to administer, Prime Minister Helen Clark says. She also said today that lowering GST across the board was not an idea that has been floated in discussions on tax relief.

Wellington, April 24 NZPA - The liquidator for Blue Chip property investment companies said that funders of investors' loans had not forced any mortgagee sales, although some letters of default had been sent out.

By Michael Daly of NZPA Wellington, April 24 NZPA - Just how significant is the word "significant"?

Wellington, April 24 NZPA - Kiwibank stole a march on its overseas-owned rivals today by slashing a key lending rate within an hour of the Reserve Bank saying it was keeping official interest rates unchanged.

Wellington, April 24 NZPA - Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard left official interest rates unchanged today as expected, but his statement was seen as a softening of his hardline anti-inflation stance as he acknowledged the economy had slowed faster than anticipated.

Wellington, April 24 NZPA - Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has left the official cash rate (OCR) unchanged at 8.25 percent, as widely predicted, while acknowledging the economy has slowed faster than he expected.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - A news website on personal finance news has been rolled out by Wellington-based online publisher Digital Advance.

By Simon Louisson of NZPA

Finance Minister Michael Cullen has given a strong indication that the Government's tax cuts won't start until April next year.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - New Zealanders will feel the effects of the US sub-prime mortgage crisis as banks curtail lending, accounting firm KPMG said in its annual survey of the banking industry today.

Wellington, April 22 NZPA - Westpac was the most active bank in this country in lending to the housing sector last year, but it sacrificed interest margin for market share, a survey out today showed.