Building consents fell in April, after the previous month's strong gain, as intentions to build houses decreased.

The dollar dropped to its lowest in more than four years on concern about the outlook for the economy.

Reserve Bank will disappoint financial markets and leave the official cash rate on hold for another two years, says NZIER.

The economy is expected to grow at about 3 per cent a year out to 2017, driving jobs growth and reducing unemployment, says the NZIER.

Strong employment growth is pushing the US economy close to the point where it can support higher interest rates.

The dollar changed little overnight with major markets in the US and the UK closed for public holidays.

The NZ fell as the US dollar strengthened following signs of rising US inflation.

William Pesek grades Park Geun Hye of South Korea, Benigno Aquino of the Philippines and Joko Widodo of Indonesia.

How have things fared since then for Asia's "Axis of Reform"? Not very well, unfortunately, says William Pesek.

The dollar held near the bottom end of its recent trading range as investors weighed up interest rates cuts.

ASB has followed the lead of ANZ and Kiwibank and slashed its fixed mortgage rates.

The dollar fell as the greenback strengthened following better-than-expected US housing data.

Westpac could join a mortgage-rate battle after Kiwibank and ANZ slashed their home loan rates.

Businesses have lifted their expectations for inflation, sapping immediate pressure on the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates.

The New Zealand dollar declined as the greenback strengthened on optimism the US economy will rebound.

The New Zealand dollar fell on speculation that potential developments could give the bank more room to cut interest rates.

The New Zealand dollar fell after the government stepped up measures to curb Auckland's bubbling housing market.

The Reserve Bank has abandoned its one-size-fits-all approach to loan-to-value ratio curbs recognising house price inflation is an Auckland problem.

Investor association slams Reserve Bank’s bid to rein in Auckland house prices, saying it will push up rents and ruin first home buyers' chances.

New lending restrictions to be imposed on Auckland property investors will do little to cool the surging market.

The dollar weakened after the Reserve Bank governor reiterated the currency was "unjustified and unsustainable".

Economics editor Brian Fallow says today's Reserve Bank move is crude, ad hoc and temporary - but it buys some time.

The Reserve Bank's new lending restrictions will make banks' books safer but may fail to cool the Auckland's housing market.

Reserve Bank targets Auckland property investors with new lending restrictions as it looks to take the heat out of the market.

Landlords says tenants will suffer from the Reserve Bank's 30 per cent rental property LVRs and rentals will become scarce.

The NZ dollar has held steady overnight ahead of the Reserve Bank's Financial Stability Report.

The Auckland region median dwelling sale price remained frozen over the last month at $720,000, but dropped in three areas.