The Serious Fraud Office wants tougher penalties for people found guilty of corruption in the private sector.

The chief executive of Kim Dotcom's latest start-up, the boss of the Financial Markets Authority, a former police detective and a Buddhist nun are at a conference beginning in Auckland today.

"This time it's different" - are usually the four most dangerous words in financial markets.

The once-troubled finance company Dorchester Pacific says it will resume dividend payments this year for the first time since 2007.

Kiwis with money in the bank could see their nest eggs and savings dwindle in a government move the Greens say is a "Cyprus-style solution" to help out failing banks.

Profits in the finance sector rocketed up last year despite New Zealand's sluggish economic growth with the banks making close to $3.7 billion.

At what stage does an SME generally seek a new shareholder or some form of external finance?

Two already jailed Capital+Merchant directors have this morning plead guilty to new Financial Markets Authority charges.

Two jailed Capital+Merchant finance directors are hoping to take their case to the Supreme Court, the Herald understands.

Hanover Group Holdings has filed an appeal after it lost a High Court fight with insurance giant AIG over a policy worth up to $20 million.

Former All Black Matthew Ridge's decade-old property development woes have been dug up as evidence in a finance company trial.

An Auckland construction boss has warned about the building resurgence, saying now can be the most perilous time for businesses.

Tramping and personal finance epiphanies seem to go hand and hand. It's surprising how often the conversation turns to personal finance on my weekend tramps.

What tips do you have for writing a simple business plan? First, identify your vision. What do you want to achieve? Your business plan should be all about how to achieve this.

Timaru businessman Allan Hubbard misled investors in his tangled affairs, says a report written shortly before his death in a car accident in September, 2011.

Floating mortgage holders could save more than $700 million this year by switching to a two-year fixed rate, statistics show.

Investment in New Zealand dairy farming will step up this year after the sector attracted strong interest in 2012.

Two personal finance companies - one of which charges over 500 per cent interest a year if loans are not paid back in two weeks - are in a High Court stoush over a super hero logo.

Editorial: The Nga Tangata Microfinance Trust in South Auckland seems to be providing a less businesslike but no less welcome solution for some of the indebted poor in this country.

Catriona MacLennan writes: "The Government will be making a serious mistake and missing a major opportunity if it disregards one of the key recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty."

A much-anticipated overhaul of securities law won't kick in until 2016.