The government will be keen to see Mighty River Power shares trade at a premium to its $2.50 issue price when it lists on the NZX today, fund managers say.

The high number of first-time sharemarket investors buying into Mighty River Power bodes well for the capital markets, says the New Zealand Shareholders Association.

Editorial: Naturally enough, the Government was keen to put the entire blame for what happened on "politicking" by Labour and the Greens.

Mighty River Power stock may be in demand when it lists tomorrow from international buyers who are faced with low yields in their own markets.

How long should I hold on to my shares? What are the most common mistakes made by first-time investors?

Mighty River Power shares will cost $2.50 each, a price the Government says was hit by Labour and the Green's announcement of a controversial power policy.

How do I choose which companies to invest in? And what does it mean to have a diversified portfolio?

The Grey Power-led petition to force a referendum on the Government’s partial asset sales policy has failed because it did not have enough signatures.

The Labour-Greens' proposal for the electricity industry should be the start of a consumer-led revolution, writes Chris Barton.

Today we launch part one of our latest video series - a beginner's guide to investing in the sharemarket.

The past few years have seen some successful floats in New Zealand - notably Summerset, Trade Me and the Fonterra Shareholders' Fund.

Insurance will represent a significantly higher share of the cost of living and the cost of doing business from here on, writes Brian Fallow.

Editorial: When the Government confirmed its mixed-ownership model strategy, it was taken for granted that Air New Zealand would be the tail-end Charlie.

I could not tell you the difference between a caterpillar and a kilowatt and neither could the parade of pontificating pundits advising on the Mighty River float.

In the week or so since it revealed its plan to slash power prices, Labour has bared its teeth at anyone questioning the wisdom of breaking up the wholesale electricity market just as it is showing signs of functioning as intended.

If Meridian Energy had already floated, it's a fair bet that its share price would have dropped after the Opposition unveiled its electricity policy a week ago.

The onus is on those calling for radical, disruptive change to something as important as the electricity sector to demonstrate that it is broken and needs fixing.

So far less than 10 per cent of those who bought into the Mighty River Power offer have pulled out as a result of the Labour/Greens electricity market overhaul proposal.

Half of those who intended to invest in Mighty River Power have changed their minds or are reconsidering, according to a Shareholders Association poll.

A broking firm says a 10 per cent reduction in power prices could be achieved in the current electricity market - meaning the Labour-Greens proposal is unnecessary.

Both opposition parties will be hoping enough potential investors turn off the pending float so they can declare it a disaster, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

The Labour-Green proposal aims to stop electricity generators 'gaming' the market in search of higher prices. Adam Bennett investigates.

Tim Bennett NZX boss Tim Bennett has reassured retail investors the market will be up to scratch for the Mighty River Power float after the exchange went down for three hours yesterday.

Investors should still consider buying into the Mighty River Power float despite the increased regulatory risk from Labour's proposed shake-up of the electricity market, according to one analyst.

"What just happened?" asks Brian Rudman. "Bland, colourless Labour leader David Shearer has suddenly been transmogrified into a working-class hero."

The war of words over the Opposition's electricity market reform plan has flared again as political opponents traded fire over the plan's economic impact.