The NZ dollar was little changed as investors looked to put their money in low-risk assets such as Government bonds.

Thousands of jobs, including 500 in New Zealand are at risk after Australian engineering firm Hastie Group went into voluntary administration today.

The dollar rose on speculation Spain may tap European Central Bank funding to bailout Bankia SA to prevent a national banking sector collapse.

The New Zealand dollar gained after Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said Greece will probably keep the euro.

Columnist spurs borrowers to demand lower interest rates.

Reserve Bank figures show household debt, which is 94 per cent mortgages, is still 141.7 per cent of disposable income.

Westpac, Kiwibank and ASB have all made cuts to some of their mortgage rates today, as the mortgage war heats up.

New Zealanders are saving more than they were less than two years ago but are missing out on deals by not shopping around, says one bank.

BNZ has cut a key mortgage rate this morning, following rate cutting by other banks on Saturday morning.

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