Consumer confidence in Australia has fallen after the country's second consecutive interest rate rise.

The Opposition's banking inquiry found that major banks did bolster their profits at the expense of borrowers.

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has issued a warning to banks about the perils of approving high-risk mortgages.

Tax avoidance has been much in the news recently, because of the banks' cases.

Operating conditions remain difficult for ASB in the current economic climate, the bank's Australian parent said today.

Transpower is contemplating a domestic bond issue of around $200m early next year as it gears up for $5 billion of capital expenditure on national grid upgrades over the next decade.

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has issued a warning to foreign exchange markets today.

Westpac suffered a shocker of a year in New Zealand on mushrooming bad debt charges and a massive tax bill.

A high-flying NZ banking exec says she was hounded out of her $250,000 pounds ($578,000) a year job in London by sexist Japanese bosses.

The NZ dollar may keep falling this week as investors get jittery about the speed and strength of the global recovery .

The New Zealand dollar has tumbled amid renewed concerns the global recovery may take longer than previously thought.

Kiwi Income Property Trust is considering raising $100 million to $150m, primarily to reduce debt.