Wall Street will again set the lead for global markets today as the world awaits news that the $US700 million ($NZ1.05 trillion) has been passed by the US Congress and that some sort of financial order has returned.
Investors will be looking anxiously towards Australian markets as the global financial meltdown continues today, ABN Amro Craigs broker Peter McIntyre says.
Stocks in Australia and Japan were smashed on their openings as markets around the world reacted to the shock of the United States lawmakers refusing to pass a bank bailout plan.
The New Zealand sharemarket fell more than 4% on opening after the United States House of Representatives rejected a compromise plan to bailout the financial industry.
Prime Minister Helen Clark is confident Dunedin South candidate Clare Curran will retain the seat for Labour on election day.
Apppointments yesterday by Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel ruled out the election this year being held in October.
The top tax threshold is likely to rise substantially under a National-led government.
Political polls continue to have Labour trailing National by a substantial margin.
The world of finance is in the midst of the biggest adjustment seen in the lifetime of most people. Business Editor Dene Mackenzie looks at the reasons and the impacts.
Central banks around the world have been pouring money into the global financial system in an effort to stave off what was likely to become the largest crisis of capital since 1929.
The importance of the Maori vote in deciding the next government was amply demonstrated in Parliament yesterday as five individual Treaty Settlement Bills were debated under urgency.
National Party leader John Key yesterday got to officially release the first section of his party's health policy, which showed an emphasis on the private sector to increase the number of people getting access to surgery and reduce hospital waiting lists.
The National Party lost momentum in the House today during question time when Prime Minister Helen Clark and Finance Minister Michael Cullen turned the tables on leader John Key over his buying and selling of Tranz Rail shares.
Issues affecting New Zealand families, and her own, were prominent in the farewell speech given last night by Dunedin-based National Party list MP Katherine Rich, who is retiring after nine years as an MP.
A co-ordinated public infrastructure investment programme should be introduced to bolster demand and confidence, Berl senior economist Ganesh Nana said.
There will be little to surprise financial markets in the New Zealand gross national product (GDP) figures due out tomorrow.
It is unclear whether Prime Minister Helen Clark will be in Parliament at 5.30pm today when Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope gives his farewell speech in the House. But she should be.
National Party list MP Katherine Rich, of Dunedin, focused on issues close to her heart as she delivered her farewell speech to Parliament tonight.
Labour Party MPs had more of a bounce in their step yesterday as they started to believe the balance of public opinion was about to shift towards them following some wins by Finance Minister Michael Cullen against National Party leader John Key.
Employers in Otago-Southland are urging the incoming government to help them fix the skills shortages the region is experiencing and help create the right environment in which to do business.
