Finance

Finance · 27 September 2026

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 · 27 September 2026

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 · 27 September 2026

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.

Finance · 12 hrs ago

LSE Owner Mulls Multimillion‑Pound CEO Pay Rise to Keep City’s Payouts on Par

Iris Quay, London desk

The London Stock Exchange’s parent is considering a multimillion‑pound increase to its chief executive’s remuneration after UK blue‑chip firms warned that boardroom pay is lagging behind U.S. rivals.

Finance · 17 hrs ago

Nvidia’s $430bn value loss drags Nasdaq down 0.75% as inflation fuels rate‑hike fears

Iris Quay, London desk

Nvidia’s share slump erased about $430 billion in value, pulling the Nasdaq Composite 0.75% lower. A hotter‑than‑expected U.S. inflation report added fresh anxiety about an imminent Federal Reserve rate increase.

Finance · 20 hrs ago

Bank of England’s Inflation Waltz: One Hesitant Step and a Risky Long‑Term Hold

Iris Quay, London desk

The Bank of England’s cautious rate increase last week has drawn criticism from think‑tank NIESR, which warns that the move may make inflation a more persistent feature of the UK economy and could keep interest rates…

Finance · 1 day ago

US inflation nudges up 0.4% as gas goes on a diet and Republicans lick their election wounds

Iris Quay, London desk

US consumer prices rose 0.4% in October, with gas prices falling, a welcome relief after Republican midterm losses blamed on high living costs.

Finance · 1 day ago

City Becomes Reality TV: Tax Leak Inquiry, Inflation Shock, Youth ‘Low‑Gear’ Warning and AI Spy Drama

Iris Quay, London desk

An inquiry into a UK budget‑bank tax leak, a sudden US inflation shock rattling Wall Street, a Bank of England deputy’s warning that young people face a low‑gear economy, and an AI poster boy accused of Chinese esp…

Finance · 1 day ago

Anthropic’s $64bn IPO: Claude’s $70‑$78 Price Tag Makes City Traders Reach for Tissues

Iris Quay, London desk

Anthropic, the AI firm behind Claude, is set to raise $64bn in a share sale priced between $70 and $78, prompting a wry reaction from City financiers who can’t decide whether to applaud the numbers or reach for a hanky…