HEADLINES... Markets: Risk off tone prevails sending equities, commodities and bond yields lower as data fails to quell slow down worries, nervousness about Greece continues. USA: GDP revised up 0.1pps to 1.9% saar in Q1, at mkt.

While log exports are booming at the demise of locally produced wood products, a forest industry leader calls for New Zealand to take control of our forest and wood products industry.

The February Christchurch Earthquake has had a significant impact on investor confidence, according to the latest ASB Investor Confidence Survey.

Labour welcomes the shift in emphasis signalled by the decision to transfer the Retirement Commissioner from the Social Development portfolio to the Commerce portfolio, says Labour's Commerce spokesperson Lianne Dalziel.

Restoring investor confidence in New Zealand's financial markets is the major goal of the new Financial Markets Authority which was formally established today.

The Financial Markets Authority officially opened for business today, almost a year to the day after Commerce Minister Simon Power announced its formation.

The Government is considering options for maintaining confidence in the financial system when the Retail Deposit Guarantee Scheme expires at the end of this year, Finance Minister Bill English says.

Commerce Minister Simon Power today welcomed the report-back by the Commerce Select Committee on legislation to establish the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and to improve governance of KiwiSaver schemes.

The Overseas Investment Office approved 27 investments in December with a net investment value, or total dollar value invested in New Zealand, of $445.89 million. This took total of approvals for 2010 to 123, which was down from the 158 in 2009.

The listing of state-owned assets will not be a big bonanza for the local market, according to a Treasury report released today.

Clear and concise regulation with appropriate powers of investigation and sanction is an advantage both to NZX and New Zealand, the New Zealand Shareholders' Association said.

A large rally in global equity markets helped boost the New Zealand Superannuation Fund's performance last month, reversing August's loss with a gain of $990 million.

New Zealand equities have been revalued by the country's key investment managers, according to the latest New Zealand investment manager outlook by US-based fund manager and investment advisor Russell Investments.

The tragedy in Christchurch this week got me thinking about how ‘earthquake proof’ peoples finances are. It brings to mind a cartoon that I saw many years ago that stuck in my mind. “New Zealanders can retire quite comfortably today…..until 2pm tomorrow”.

Wellington, Aug 10 NZPA - The "feel-good" factor if New Zealand limited foreign investment would probably not be enough to outweigh the inevitable "feel-bad" consequences of a lower standard of living, the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) says.

Wellington, July 23 NZPA - Opportunities for investing in socially responsible funds are limited, a Council for Socially Responsible Investment (CSRI) conference in Auckland was told.

Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Investigators looking into the collapse of an Auckland financial advisory firm believe at least $15 million is missing. They have widened their investigation to include other businesses linked to Remuera couple Mike and Jackie Bradley.

Consumer New Zealand's recent analysis of financial advisors is further evidence that commissioned salespeople must be prevented from providing financial advice, according to investment manager and commentator Dr Gareth Morgan.

Wellington, Oct 2 NZPA - Half of leading portfolio managers think New Zealand shares are fairly valued, up from 25 percent in the June quarter and none the quarter before that, survey results show.

Wellington, June 3 NZPA - Treasury Secretary John Whitehead today risked the wrath of property investors by suggesting New Zealand address the long standing issue of taxing capital gains from property investment.

Wellington, Nov 17 NZPA - A new $5 million "angel" investment fund is targeting new investors and will increase the capital available to seed and start-up companies, says the Crown-owned New Zealand Venture Investment Fund (NZVIF).

Parliament has passed legislation which Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel says is "excellent news" for the growth and improvement of infrastructure businesses that are natural monopolies.

Finance companies, building societies, credit unions and other deposit takers will be required to obtain credit ratings and meet tougher prudential requirements as a result of legislation enacted today, Finance Minister Michael Cullen says.

Reports that overseas speculators are shutting first home buyers out of the market should spur the Government to ban foreigners owning land in New Zealand, Greens co-leader Russel Norman said today.

Wellington, July 30 NZPA - As the troubled financial industry takes another hit, investors are being reminded to spread their risks and advised against doing anything rash.

Wellington, July 15 NZPA - Investor confidence in New Zealand rallied over the previous quarter despite investors predicting inflation and the economy would continue to deteriorate over the next three months.

Wellington, April 30 NZPA - Building consent numbers tumbled by nearly a third last month compared to March 2007, figures published today by Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) show.

Wellington, April 15 NZPA - The global credit crunch and sub-prime crisis in the United States saw investor confidence decline in the Asia Pacific region in the first quarter of 2008, according to an ING investor survey.

The Government is being urged to reconsider the timing of its emissions trading scheme as the world economy comes under increasing stress. Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has warned that the scheme will add to inflationary pressures in this country next year.

Wellington airport owner Infratil acknowledges it got good and bad feedback on its "Rock" terminal design but said construction will begin soon regardless.