Farm prices would fall by up to 40 per cent and banks would have to write off up to 15 per cent of their loans in a "worst case scenario".

BRIAN FALLOW: An increasingly sombre view of the global economy lies behind the Reserve Bank's decision to cut the official cash rate.

The New Zealand dollar dropped by US1c after the Reserve Bank surprised the market with this morning's OCR cut.

Here's a synopsis of current market thinking: governor doesn't want to cut rates but he will have to cut because the world's so gloomy, writes Liam Dann.

Bill English says he's willing to wait for next year's review of the Reserve Bank's policy targets agreement to consider whether it is still appropriate.

WATCH THE ECONOMY HUB: Home owners could face higher mortgage payments if the Reserve Bank doesn't cut rates further this year.

Quotable Value expert says activity is picking up and investors are starting to return to the market.

Companies issuing more bonds amid expectation Reserve Bank will cut rates.

New Zealand's economy remains relatively robust, but it feels as if the stakes have risen sharply in the past few weeks, writes Liam Dann.

Performance reviews are never fun and they're often more complicated than they should be, writes Bernard Hickey.

Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler has emphasised the flexibility written into his inflation policy targets agreement.

The Reserve Bank has left its official cash rate unchanged at 2.50 per cent, in line with market expectations.

Climate change may still seem a distant threat, but a "Super El Nino" summer is already evident.

The Reserve Bank has cut its official cash rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 2.5 per cent, signalling a likely end to the current easing cycle.

Like three quick wickets in a test match on an otherwise lifeless pitch, this week's monetary policy statement suddenly has a bit of an edge to it.

Economists expect the Reserve Bank to cut its official cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.5 per cent at this Thursday's monetary policy statement, but the financial markets are not so sure.

New Zealand business confidence rose to a six-month high in November, signalling a pick-up in the economy.

The Reserve Bank kept its official cash rate on hold but economists said it was only a matter of time before the bank resumed its easing bias.

An "alarming" number of landlords remain largely ignorant of new Reserve Bank LVR rules which demand Auckland investors have 30 per cent deposits.

An enterprising entrepreneur has made a tidy profit on a pair of $10 banknotes not yet in circulation.

But Reserve Bank governor is wary of stoking housing market.

New $5 and $10 notes are released into circulation today.

No news was not good news when the US Federal Reserve left rates on hold last week.

Policymakers inevitably get things wrong from time to time, writes Brian Fallow. But if they are to learn from their mistakes, they first have to acknowledge that they are mistakes.

New research finds that many businesses in NZ do not have a clear understanding of inflation rates, much less the role of the central bank.

Despite cutting interest rates three times this year Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler says he remains optimistic about the New Zealand economy.

The Reserve Bank surprised no one by cutting its official cash rate at yesterday's official cash rate review. The challenge now facing the central bank lies not in holding inflation down, but in holding it up.

Wheeler cited rising consent numbers as a bright spot in the Auckland housing sector when he gave his post-OCR briefing.

The Reserve Bank is expected to cut interest rates this week, fueling belief that banks will follow suit and cut mortgage rates.