Finance

Finance · 2 hrs ago

Rate Hike Ruffles Canberra’s Wallets and Their Pets

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

In the capital, a looming rate hike is tightening the purse strings of businesses and consumers alike, and the pet market is feeling the squeeze – some families are letting their furry friends go.

Finance · 4 hrs ago

Commerce Commission’s Cartel Crackdown Leaves Taxpayers Smiling, Banks Still Waiting for Cash Rate

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The Commerce Commission has exposed a $360m a year price‑tag on illegal bid‑rigging in public procurement, prompting a sweep of colluding suppliers and a dry reminder that even banks can’t escape the cost of misbeh…

Finance · 4 hrs ago

China‑US AI Accord Promises $42 b in Tariff Cuts, Market Participants Hold Their Breath

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

In a grand diplomatic gesture, Beijing and Washington have agreed to a sweeping AI dialogue and slash $42 billion in tariffs, targeting a laundry list of goods that will inevitably make market participants question the…

Finance · 6 hrs ago

Australia Exposes OpenAI Hack on UN Stage, AI Shares Suffer Sudden Dip

Vera Chen, Sydney desk

Australian tech giants face scrutiny after a high‑profile AI breach was revealed at the UN. Market participants scramble to gauge the ripple effect on the city’s booming AI and property sectors.

Finance · 7 hrs ago

Fed’s Robust Briefing Leaves Earnings Looking Robust, Investors Still Skeptical

Helen Pell, Washington desk

In a dry market recap, the Fed’s robust briefing and robust‑looking earnings left investors wary of the robustness promised.

Finance · 8 hrs ago

US Dollar Surfs on Xi‑Trump Diplomatic 'Robust' Stalemate While Wall Street Stays Skeptical

Helen Pell, Washington desk

A mock briefing on the market’s reaction to the latest China‑US diplomatic visit uses the word “robust” four times, while earnings reports and Fed commentary are tucked into the same dry, tongue‑in‑cheek disp…

Finance · 7 hrs ago

Robust Earnings, Robust Fed, Robust Outlook: Washington Desk Briefing

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Washington’s finance desk delivers a dry briefing on robust earnings, robust Fed policy, and a robust outlook, all wrapped in a concise, no‑nonsense tone.

Finance · 8 hrs ago

Home Loan Rates Slip Below 5% – Borrowers Celebrate While Banks Play Catch‑Up

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

New Zealand banks have nudged home‑loan rates below the 5% mark, sparking a brief wave of relief for borrowers, but many lenders keep their two‑year terms in limbo. Amid the rate shuffle, the cash rate hangs in the b…

Finance · 8 hrs ago

Fuel Prices Surge, Kiwi Drivers Brace for Stovepipe Inflation

Moss Harlow, Auckland desk

The cost of pumping petrol has climbed again, leaving Auckland commuters wondering if they’ll ever see a price tag as low as a single coffee cup.