New Zealand house prices rose in February reversing the falls of December and January, according to just released REINZ figures.

Building activity slowed in the final three months of 2013 as non-residential work dropped for a second quarter.

The New Zealand dollar advanced as investors gained confidence that tensions in Ukraine were easing, stoking demand for risk-sensitive assets.

Savers should expect to feel some relief from next week with economists predicting short-term deposit rates to head up in line with a predicted increase in the official cash rate.