In a history-making selection, US President Barack Obama nominated Janet Yellen to be chairman of the Federal Reserve.

New Zealand will rank among the strongest-growing of the advanced economies this year and next year.

The first batch of `special housing areas' in Auckland, which will bring 6000 new sections onto the market, have been revealed today.

US President Barack Obama says he's willing to negotiate with Republicans on their priorities, but not under the threat of "economic chaos.''

A trainee carpenter from Herne Bay is one step closer to winning a national award after being shortlisted in an apprentice of the year contest.

More than 30pc of New Zealand businesses have reported optimism in the latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion - the highers level since March 2010.

On Oct 17 the US faces its first-ever default on its $16.7 trillion debt - something that could plunge the nation - and the world - into a crisis worse than 2008.

Contributions holiday is automatic when people leave, but lump sum payments can be made at any time.

The government has posted a smaller operating deficit than forecast and affirmed its target to reach a surplus by 2015.

A two-week US govt shutdown could cut 0.25 percentage points off fourth-quarter economic expansion, says one top Federal Reserve official.

For a man profoundly worried by the unsustainable track the world is on, Sir Jonathon Porritt is remarkably cheerful.

Wage and salary earners' incomes rose 4.8 per cent at the median over the year ended June, but the increase reflected an ageing of the working population as well as higher rates of pay.

Real estate companies are at odds over whether the introduction of lending restrictions has affected the property market.

The Government's refusal to do much of anything to curb New Zealand's emissions is as economically myopic as it is morally contemptible.

The US Government began a partial shutdown for the first time in 17 years yesterday, putting as many as 800,000 federal employees in limbo.

Having put their collective feet up on the desk as they contemplate retirement, baby boomers have been overtaken by Gen Xer as the most productive generation.

Businesses are the most cheerful they have been since 1999, a good sign for growth and employment but a potential harbinger of higher inflation and interest rates.

John Key has hit back at Labour over new Reserve Bank mortgage lending limits, saying home buyers are better off under National due to lower interest rates.

Prime Minister John Key says he is confident the property market will settle down, despite the Reserve Bank's new mortgage lending restrictions.