Unless National offers a better loyalty scheme there will be little incentive to apply for shares in Meridian and Genesis, writes John Armstrong.

Newly released papers raise fresh questions over Prime Minister John Key's claim that Solid Energy asked for $1 billion of taxpayers' money to fund its transformation into a massive resources company.

The Government will have to bump up the sweeteners to get enough mum and dad investors to buy into Meridian Energy, an analyst says.

Shares in Mighty River Power ducked below their issue price for the first time since their debut on the NZX today before recovering ground near the close of business.

Against a backdrop of rising share prices and a booming Auckland housing market, investor confidence reached its highest level.

Finance Minister, Bill English, has high hopes that New Zealanders will buy into the partial float of Meridian Energy.

Meridian Energy, New Zealand's biggest and most profitable power company, will be partially privatised later this year, Finance Minister Bill English confirmed in yesterday's Budget.

Senior executives of newly listed, state-controlled Mighty River Power are in line for shares in lieu of cash bonuses worth $1.2 million for the year to June 30.

Analysts at Macquarie say further details in today's Budget of a possible government sell-down of Air New Zealand could help push the airline's share price.

Research firm UBS has placed a "buy" recommendation on Mighty River Power shares and a 12 month target price of $2.82.

Eighty thousand first-time investors buying Mighty River Power shares is a good start, but hopefully more will take the opportunity to take up share offers in the future, the Government says.

The high number of first-time sharemarket investors buying into Mighty River Power bodes well for the capital markets, says the New Zealand Shareholders Association.

Mighty River Power stock may be in demand when it lists tomorrow from international buyers who are faced with low yields in their own markets.

How long should I hold on to my shares? What are the most common mistakes made by first-time investors?

Mighty River Power shares will cost $2.50 each, a price the Government says was hit by Labour and the Green's announcement of a controversial power policy.

The Government has secured a mid-range price for its sale of Mighty River Power shares but just one in four of those who pre-registered ended up buying shares.

Next week's Budget will be a Budget for the board room, not the smoko room, says Labour leader David Shearer.

How do I choose which companies to invest in? And what does it mean to have a diversified portfolio?

There are clear signs KiwiSaver is growing our retirement savings, but will it boost our capital markets? asks Blair Turnbull.

Spurred by tourism and the Crafar sale, Chinese investors are eyeing NZ assets.

Spectre of regulation could spark uncertainty and undermine recovering capital markets.