Graeme Wheeler has signalled he may delay the start of rises in the official cash rate if the Kiwi dollar stays high.

One of NZ's largest home builders says new loan restrictions have cost it 24 new-home builds in the first month alone - and it expects more as the policy bites.

The Reserve Bank yesterday confirmed it has agreed to re-examine its new mortgage lending restrictions if data shows they are crimping the supply of new homes.

Treasury suggested introducing a capital gains tax and restrictions on foreign buyers as part of a long term prescription to curb house price increases, documents released today show.

The New Zealand dollar was the worst performing currency overnight, as investors switched to so-called 'safe haven' assets.

The New Zealand dollar has jumped to its highest in more than five months.

New Zealand had its highest net gain of migrants in more than 10 years last month, as even fewer Kiwis left for Australia.

It's going to take a lot more political bungling to do any permanent damage to America's reputation or wreck its financial markets.

The US Senate has passed legislation to avoid a threatened national default and end the 16-day partial government shutdown along the strict terms set by US President Barack Obama.