A major oil and gas conference starting today will hear from a former United States prosecutor selected by the Obama Administration to beef up offshore drilling rules.

The political machinations around the electricity sector have definitely added an element of higher risk to the Mighty River Power float making it even harder for retail investors to make a call on buying into the soon-to-be-listed power company.

So far less than 10 per cent of those who bought into the Mighty River Power offer have pulled out as a result of the Labour/Greens electricity market overhaul proposal.

Half of those who intended to invest in Mighty River Power have changed their minds or are reconsidering, according to a Shareholders Association poll.

Both opposition parties will be hoping enough potential investors turn off the pending float so they can declare it a disaster, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

Investors should still consider buying into the Mighty River Power float despite the increased regulatory risk from Labour's proposed shake-up of the electricity market, according to one analyst.

Labour says its plan to bring down power prices is affordable despite losing out on state-owned power company dividends.

Uncertainty created by the Labour Party and Greens' plans for the electricity market helped drive the share prices of the main NZX-listed power generators sharply down yesterday.

Woodside Petroleum is confident of meeting its full-year targets as it posts a sharp jump in quarterly production and starts exploration work in Burma.

The Government says it won't be able to say how many people have applied to buy shares in Mighty River Power until after the offer period has closed.

Goodman Property Trust could own the new $60 million to $80 million Fonterra headquarters to be built near Auckland's waterfront.

I can't get excited about the Mighty River share float either as an investor or as an economist, writes Peter Lyons. NZers are being given a chance to buy shares in businesses that all of us already own.

Diligent Board Member Services faces breaching listing rules after the stock exchange regulator refused an application to waive its use of an American auditor.

More than 400,000 people have pre-registered their interest in buying Mighty River Power shares before the process closes at 5pm on Friday.