The chances of any official cash rate increase from the Reserve Bank have dropped, with the latest inflation figures coming in lower than expected. The CPI was up 0.4 per cent in the last quarter, taking annual inflation to 4.6pc.

New Zealand needs to avoid a costly regulatory over-reaction to the Christchurch earthquakes, says Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard.

Anyone hoping for a weekend fix to the global banking sector will have to wait a little longer - perhaps a lot longer.

Goldman Sachs Group, whose shares have fallen 43 per cent this year, may report its lowest quarterly profit since the 2008 financial crisis.

World markets rose overnight after intervention by the Bank of England and the European Central Bank eased fears about the European debt crisis.

Now the dust has settled on 'Double-Downgrade Day', it's worth looking at what it all means.

Tower insurance is lifting its premiums across the board, to help pay for increased re-insurance policies prompted by the Christchurch earthquakes.

Greece's sovereign debt woes could end up affecting New Zealand's access to credit and slowing down the country's economic growth, says Alan Bollard.