Caveats to upbeat forecasts
Caveats to upbeat forecasts
Treasury yesterday released an optimistic set of economic forecasts, which it admitted had a 20% chance of being wrong and that the economy could perform much worse than predicted.
Dene Mackenzie
Spotlight on directors' fee rises
Spotlight on directors' fee rises
Dunedin-based professional director Stuart McLauchlan believes directors are doing themselves no favours by delaying increases in their fees at a time when their duties have become much more onerous.
No change in OCR forecast
No change in OCR forecast
Inflation figures due out this morning are not expected to overly affect the Reserve Bank's decision this Thursday as the bank weighs up changing the official cash rate (OCR).
Net migration will rise with jobs: ASB
Net migration will rise with jobs: ASB
Steady job growth in New Zealand will see skill shortages emerge, which will then encourage an increase in inward migration, ASB economist Jane Turner says.
Debts will cost more: expert
Debts will cost more: expert
Higher debt costs were inevitable after the two recent economic downgrades, but the Government was still receiving strong demand for its bonds, Craigs Investment Partners broker Chris Timms said yesterday.
NZ still third in Doing Business rankings
NZ still third in Doing Business rankings
New Zealand has maintained its third-place world ranking in the Doing Business 2012 report, coming out top in the world for starting a business and protecting investors.
Election 2011 Comment: Brash staging Act finale?
Election 2011 Comment: Brash staging Act finale?
ACT New Zealand leader Don Brash, a former National Party leader who nearly won power in 2005, on current polling seems likely to lead another party to defeat at the election on November 26.
New Air NZ planes likely to benefit Queenstown
New Air NZ planes likely to benefit Queenstown
Queenstown looks the most likely of Air New Zealand's southern destinations to benefit from the company's decision to buy up to 12 new-generation French-built ATR72-600 aircraft.
Restaurant Brands earnings plunge
Restaurant Brands earnings plunge
Restaurant Brands, a barometer of the domestic economy, yesterday reported an interim profit slashed nearly in half and a reduced dividend.
KiwiSaver changes in 2014-15
KiwiSaver changes in 2014-15
The Government has adopted a timid approach to superannuation saving, ruling out compulsory savings and opting instead for auto-enrolment in KiwiSaver - but not yet.
Comment: Labour opts for local faces
Comment: Labour opts for local faces
Labour has thrown out the presidential-style campaigning model that was so successful under former leader and prime minister Helen Clark.
Methven downgrades outlook
Methven downgrades outlook
Falling construction activity, notably in Australia, and international financial instability have prompted tapware company Methven to revise downwards its earnings outlook for the year to March 31, 2012.
Malware in mobiles fails to launch so far, but...
Malware in mobiles fails to launch so far, but...
Every year for the past decade, the security industry has predicted a flood of mobile malware. However, only a trickle of such malware has emerged. Technology writer Dene Mackenzie reviews the latest Symantec Security Response.
'Hard day at the office' for Otago and Southland
'Hard day at the office' for Otago and Southland
Through recent months, the announcement of the performance in the services sector index represented a "hard day at the office" for Otago and Southland.
Product making tops NZ
Product making tops NZ
The Otago-Southland regional economy has plenty to cheer about in the latest BNZ-BusinessNZ performance in manufacturing index results, leading the rest of the country with 60.1 points last month.
Bright outlook for Cup spending
Bright outlook for Cup spending
The slight increase in electronic card spending in September was on the soft side of expectations, but research by MasterCard indicates there are plenty of benefits to come from New Zealand hosting the Rugby World Cup. Business editor Dene Mackenzie reviews sales in the retail sector.
Consumer spending restrained in key retail sectors
Consumer spending restrained in key retail sectors
Consumer spending in the key listed retail sectors of consumer durables and apparel remains subdued and most retailers are still reporting a difficult environment, Forsyth Barr broker Suzanne Kinnaird says.
Food prices show downward trend
Food prices show downward trend
Observers are hailing a 1% fall in September food prices as a sign of further moderation in what has been a volatile Statistics New Zealand index.
ACC levy decrease of more than $500 million announced
ACC levy decrease of more than $500 million announced
A substantial decrease in ACC levies for employers and the self-employed is being welcomed with open arms by Otago-Southland Employers Association chief executive John Scandrett.
Critics call for fairer way to rebuild natural disaster fund
Critics call for fairer way to rebuild natural disaster fund
Government critics are calling for fairer treatment after Finance Minister Bill English yesterday announced a rise in the Earthquake Commission levies from 5c per $100 to 15c per $100 for insured homeowners.