Judging by the barometer of hedge-fund interest, there's less to get excited about in gold these days.

The New Zealand dollar is trading near a record high against the Australian currency but that doesn't necessarily mean bargains for shoppers, a consumer expert says.

Drought in much of the country is helping to drive dairy prices higher, but farmgate prices for beef and sheepmeat are weakening.

A big fall in the amount of beer available has lead to a 2 per cent fall in the size of New Zealand's alcohol supply last year.

Iraq will inevitably dominate Friday's talks between John Key and Tony Abbott - but it should not obscure progress on the vital transtasman economic agenda.

ExportNZ's Dialogue article in support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks failed to come to grips with the issues that matter.

Lower oil prices mean the less efficient carriers with older aircraft than Air New Zealand are back in the game, writes Grant Bradley.

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.

A global war between two corporate crocodiles is again being waged in New Zealand, with fashion companies fighting today over the right to use a famous reptilian logo on clothing here.

Dairy prices posted their fifth consecutive gain at this morning’s GlobalDairyTrade auction.

ANZ said it expects dairy prices to continue this year's firming trend at tomorrow's GlobalDairyTrade auction.

'Economists make forecasts," said the late, great, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, "not because they know, but because they are asked."

Catherine Beard writes: Those questioning the value of free trade agreements could do well to examine the results achieved by New Zealand's other agreements.

The boss of a local fund manager has welcomed efforts by the country's financial regulator to crack down on market manipulation.

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.

Ports of Auckland has won a huge victory allowing it to use more of the Waitemata Harbour to park cars after Auckland councillors yesterday caved in on tough rules for reclamation.

Labour's leadership contest roadshow carried less of a punch to the taxpayer's wallet than the last runoff in 2013, according to newly released list of MPs' expenses.

The CBOE Crude Oil Volatility Index climbed to 63.14 on February 5, the highest level in almost six years.