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.

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 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.

Having chugged along through the financial crisis, China's huge expansion in debt now threatens to destabilise the economy.

The NZ dollar has edged closer to its record against the Australian dollar overnight - briefly touching 96.29 Australian cents this morning.