Wellington, July 24 NZPA - The Reserve Bank has cut official interest rates in the face of a slowing economy and the rising cost to banks of funds raised overseas. Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard today lowered the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 8 percent from 8.25 percent.

Wellington, July 24 NZPA - Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard today cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 8 percent from 8.25 percent, the first rate cut in five years.

Wellington, July 22 NZPA - Another major finance company has hit serious trouble, bringing to 23 the number of finance companies to collapse or freeze funds over 32 months.

Wellington, July 18 NZPA - The Reserve Bank is expected to leave interest rates on hold next Thursday, but a 25-point cut is forecast within the next two months as a stalling economy outweighs rising inflation concerns.

(EMBARGOED NOON, NOT TO BE USED BY WEBSITES ETC BEFORE THAT TIME) Wellington, July 18 NZPA - There was a sharp improvement in home affordability in June thanks to falling house prices and interest rates, according to the Wizard Home Loans Affordability report out today.

(EMBARGOED NOON, NOT TO BE USED BY WEBSITES ETC BEFORE THAT TIME) Wellington, July 18 NZPA - There was a sharp improvement in home affordability in June thanks to falling house prices and interest rates, according to the Wizard Home Loans Affordability report out today.

Wellington, July 16 NZPA - Loan defaults are up sharply and new loan applications are down, according to credit information company Veda Advantage.

Wellington, July 11 NZPA - The sharemarket slid to a fresh three-year low today not long after the release of further evidence that the housing market is in decline.

Auckland, July 9 NZPA - A man convicted for his role in a $7 million housing scam has been told if he pays $50,000 towards reparation by the time he is sentenced, it will reduce the time he will spend on home detention.

Wellington, July 8 NZPA - A major indicator of business sentiment is pointing to two more quarters of economic decline, following the 0.3 percent fall in Gross Domestic Product in the March quarter.