The Federal Reserve System is a strange, ungainly beast.

A new $300 million 800-unit Albany project, promoted as New Zealand's largest residential apartment development, has just been announced. Martin

A day after QV released stats showing yet another increase in property values, Auckland realtor Barfoot & Thompson says last month saw a fall in prices, as more properties came on the market.

Auckland house values are up by 43.8 per cent on the last boom in 2007 - but a valuer is warning that off-the-plan buyers are not always recovering their money.

In the last year, Auckland house prices were up 16 per cent and it is expected pressures will build up house prices even more.

No central banker today will raise interest rates without looking carefully at Sweden's example.

The NZ dollar hit 97.07 Australian cents overnight with some analysts saying there is nothing to stop it pushing higher to parity.

The NZ dollar has touched a fresh record against the Aussie, after Federal Reserve meeting minutes suggested officials may favour keeping US interest rates lower for longer.

The softness of Japan's rebound shows PM Abe's challenge to revive the economy from two decades of stagnation.

The expected price for smaller Auckland homes is continuing to increase, with Trade Me reporting a 26.5 per cent jump for properties of one and two bedrooms.