The economic impact of the earthquake will be sharply negative in the near term but probably positive for GDP over a longer period, economists say.

Women's shoe retailer Kumfs is rebranding this month to engage a younger audience and increase overseas sales, its managing director says.

The former boss of Lehman Brothers has let loose his bitterness at the US government's failure to save his firm in 2008.

Sth Canterbury Finance chief executive Sandy Maier says an announcement that will have "good and bad" in it is due sometime after 9.30am today.