Equities on Wall Street began the final five-day trading week of the year on a positive note amid takeover news and optimism about the global economy.

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard isn't expected to start hiking interest rates again until the middle of next year after he held the official cash rate at 3 per cent today.

The Reserve Bank has left the Official Cash Rate on hold at 3 per cent. In his Monetary Policy Statement, Governor Alan Bollard said the pace of economic growth 'appears to have moderated'.

Treasury is sitting on advice to the government about options for selling state assets, and is just waiting to be asked to produce it.