For the March quarter as a whole core retail sales paid for by credit, debit or charge cards were up 2.7 per cent - the fastest quarterly growth since December 2006.

China's worst economic slowdown in 25 years will hit Australia as iron ore prices tumble, says the World Bank.

A real estate company owner in a dispute with an agent over use of a brand name has tried to have two members of Parliament give evidence in the case.

The NZ Super Fund has lined up alongside vulture funds and an Indian steel billionaire in a bid to extract itself from a bad $200 million bet on a toxic Portuguese bank.

Latest stats show New Zealand consumers are starting to spend up in the shops, with electronic card spending up 3.7 per cent last month.

The New Zealand dollar has risen to a fresh record against the euro and commentators say it is likely to continue to break new ground.

Profits were squeezed in New Zealand's banking sector during the final quarter of last year as non-interest income decreased and impaired asset expenses rose.

Buying a house on the city's outskirts can save Aucklanders up to $50,000 each year in mortgage repayments, despite the added commuting costs.

HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham, who first coined the phrase "rock star" in January last year to describe New Zealand's economic growth.

The lawyer heading up a legal fight against NZ's major banks over fees says he won't be throwing the towel in despite a ruling in favour of ANZ in Australia.

Finance Minister Bill English says New Zealand and Singapore have been at the forefront of negotiations with the Chinese Government over the governance of the proposed Asia Infrastructure Investment....

The Australian Government has announced that it will be involved in negotiations to set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Almost certainly, New Zealand will join.

At least four banks have quietly dropped cash incentives aimed at wooing home loan customers.

The New Zealand dollar continues its almost daily flirtation with Aussie dollar parity, reaching another record high on the cross rate as expectations began to mount that the Reserve Bank of Australia would soon cut its official interest rate for the seco

Mortgage payments for Auckland's most affordable homes are costing first-time buyers nearly half their take-home pay each week, a new report shows.

An "inveterate fraudster" who scammed more than $200,000, including from a top judge, conned bank call centre staff into giving him access to internet bank accounts.

NZ's first mobile wallet has been launched by technology company Semble in collaboration with national mobile operators and banks.

The New Zealand dollar rose to a record against the Australian dollar on speculation the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut interest rates again.

Kiwi-owned banks are well ahead of their Aussie counterparts, according to a new customer satisfaction survey - and their bosses say they're not surprised.