Stocks in the US advanced as better-than-anticipated earnings outweighed a decline in homebuilder confidence.

Solid earnings data from corporate America has done little to ease investors' concerns that growth in the world economy is slowing.

NZers will look back on the winter of 2010 as the moment we finally realised the last decade of growth was a sham.

Economists expect the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates further late this month, despite lower than expected inflation figures.

New CPI figures show prices rose 0.3 per cent for the June 2010 quarter, meaning annual inflation is running at 1.8 per cent.

CPI stats due out today will be closely watched...

The NZ dollar peeked above US71c for the first time since late June as good economic data from the US and Australia restored faith in the global economic recovery.

South Canterbury Finance has named a former Rabobank executive to run its so-called "good bank".

Kiwibank had slowing growth and shrinking margins in the March quarter, says KPMG.

Stocks in Europe, Brazil and Canada fell, as did oil prices, amid increasing signs that economic growth was cooling globally.

Auckland house sales slumped 16pc in June, with the average sale price falling 3.6pc from a year ago, says real estate firm Barfoot & Thompson.

The boss of state-owned Kiwibank wants people to be compelled to join KiwiSaver, with individual contributions rising gradually over the next decade or two to reach 10 per cent of income.

House prices will fall gently for the next two years before levelling out, says a leading bank economist.

Equities slid overnight amid further signs of economic weakness in China, Europe and the US.