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Alert from IMF on World Economy

Just when you may have thought the worst was over, the International Monetary Fund today posted an alert that the world economy has entered a dangerous new phase.

Economy Gathers Momentum

The New Zealand economy has been gathering momentum since late last year, as activity has responded to low interest rates, a stabilisation in asset values and strong commodity export prices, according to Westpac. ...

Correct Compensation for Risk Urged

[PREMIUM] New Zealand companies, following rights issues and share purchase plans in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis have greater balance sheet strength than they have had for a long time, says Bradley Nuttall, private wealth managers and investment consultants. But are they fully compensating for underlining risk when they make bond offers? (To become a PREMIUM reader please take up a regular subscription). ...

Optimism moves Higher

The Bank of New Zealand’s latest monthly survey has revealed a rise in sentiment to a net 36% optimism about the economy in a year’s time compared with a net 22% optimism in early August. ...

Westpac Weekly Insight - Inflation Hiding in Strong Data

Chief Economist Dominick Stephens presents economic insights in this bite-sized weekly video. This week: More strong data in New Zealand, while on international markets the gold bubble bursts. ...

Compulsory KiwiSaver Supported

More than half (57%) of surveyed New Zealanders believe that KiwiSaver membership should be compulsory, according to research released by the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (Finsia) today and commissioned in conjunction with the Institute of Financial Advisers (IFA) for this week’s Financial Awareness Week. ...

Volatility Ignited in World Markets

[PREMIUM] Heightened fears of sovereign debt default in Europe (and therefore risks to the region’s fragile banking sector), against the backdrop of anaemic growth prospects in the US, have ignited extreme volatility in financial markets worldwide. Where does Dominick Stephens, chief economist at Westpac in New Zealand think we’re headed?. ...

Where do we Go from Here?

The current episode of the heeby geebies can be taken as a sign that the global economic outlook is not as comfortable as many people were pricing in and that substantial struggles remain – but that a growth path will continue, says Bank of New Zealand economist Tony Alexander. ...

Push-back on Rate Rise?

Last week’s domestic data may not have been packed with surprises, but it helped shed more light on the pace and composition of New Zealand’s recovery, says Westpac. ...