Fund managers move away from shares;Latest Investment Yearbook available

As we get closer to the silly season there’s still plenty of serious action going on in the financial advisory world. Niko Kloeten explains.

 The pressure on health insurance premiums - and how to reduce them - dominated the Southern Cross Medical Care Society annual general meeting this week.

Partners Life estimates that it accounted for around 10% of new insurance business written in the September quarter.

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has completed the recruitment of its strategic leadership team with two further appointments, reporting to chief executive Sean Hughes.

The Reserve Bank today left the Official Cash Rate (OCR) unchanged at 2.50% and given no indication of future movements.

AMP picks up manager from Sovereign for underwriting role.

Newpark has appointed Simon Yarrell as BDM in Christchurch. This is a newly created role due to Newpark's focus on expansion and growth. He will start in January 2012.

Latest interest rate survey of economists; New online quoting tool; First insurer licensed.

Standard & Poor's has taken the axe to the credit ratings of the Australian banks, but they weren't the only things getting cut in the financial sector this week.Niko Kloeten rounds up the week's news.