New Zealand shares fell in a global sell-off yesterday, as investors were cautious about economic growth.

The only global body to sound major warnings ahead of 2008 is worried debt levels have again reached extreme levels.

Westpac's CEO is planning to invest an extra A$200m a year in digital initiatives to boost the bank's customer numbers, as well as drive down costs.

For many Kiwis, paying off a mortgage is a marathon effort - but on November 1, 10 lucky Auckland Marathon runners will have the chance to run down their rate

Years after the great housing bust, so-called liar loans - made without verifying people's finances - are creeping back into the US market.

State-owned bank now offering six-month rates of 5.19 per cent - and 4.59 per cent for a two-year term.

Most economists expect the bank to now retain an easing bias, with some tipping the rate to drop to 2 per cent.

The New Zealand dollar has advanced ahead of the Reserve Bank's official cash rate announcement this morning.

Global equity markets gained and commodity markets rallied overnight, triggered in part by a late surge in Chinese equities.

The mortgage rate war is heating up ahead of a widely tipped rates cut on Thursday, with ASB now matching the 4.35pc rate BNZ unveiled last week.

Traders have put 78 per cent odds of Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler cutting the official cash rate.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi was asked last week whether his institution should consider revising its 2 per cent inflation target.

The NZ dollar declined after US labour market data left open the possibility of US interest rate hikes this month.

Will they or won't they is the question that has been on investors' minds as they try to guess when the US Federal Reserve will raise official rates.

BNZ reduces one-year fixed rate to 4.35 per cent ahead of Reserve Bank's expected announcement that OCR will be cut.

Banks appear to have come to the party for NZ farmers needing support during the dairy downturn.

US economic data has kept alive expectations the Federal Reserve may hike interest rates this month.

The dollar fell after weak Chinese factory data yesterday raised concerns about a slowdown in Asia's largest economy.

The U.S. Justice Department is finalising agreements with Swiss banks that may have helped Americans evade taxes.

Investors are selling currencies such as the kiwi as they unwind so called 'carry trades'.

Business confidence has dropped to levels last seen in the immediate aftermath of the global financial crisis.

Liam Dann writes: Inflation is not dead and there seems no doubt market volatility and the slowdown in China were top of mind for many.

The USD strengthened after Fed Reserve officials signalled the US central bank is on track for a potential rate hike next month.

The dollar edged up with gains limited by a stronger US dollar buoyed by better economic data.

The world's largest bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, is stepping up its international expansion to offset China's slowing economic growth, according to former chief executive Yang Kaisheng.

It follows a period of volatile trading as investor confidence about weakness in China abated.