After many months of fast and furious rate hikes, the next chapter of monetary policy is upon us: rate cuts. But the question is, who will be the first to turn the page?

Forsyth Barr-owned Octagon Asset Management has made its funds available for independent financial advisers and financial advice providers (FAPs) via the NZX Wealth Technologies (NZXWT) platform.

After years of speculation Suncorp has sold Asteron Life.

Two adviser organisations have merged to better serve independent financial advisers.

CalPERS, the largest pension plan in the United States, has snared the services of NZ Super fund chief investment officer .Stephen Gilmore.

Distressed housing loans are continuing to rise, February’s monthly figures from the Reserve Bank show, while across the banking system impaired loans have topped $4 billion as the economy worsens.

The double dip recession revealed yesterday in Stats NZ figures will not surprise mortgage advisers as potential clients struggle beneath high inflation, higher interest rates and lower house prices.

Mortgage lending has risen 28% since the disastrous February of last year when just $3.8 billion was lent – the lowest February figure since the Reserve Bank started data collection in 2014.

The global economy is tettering between inflation and deflation and which way it leans will probably come down to about 12 US Treasury officials, according to British-based economist Andrew Hunt.

Two small-cap stocks, Savor Group and New Zealand King Salmon Investments, staged strong earnings turnarounds, but the NZ sharemarket remained stuck in negative territory.

Australian industry veteran Jo Townsend has been appointed chief executive of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation.