The Bank of New Zealand has fired its next shot in the battle for the lowest floating rate home loan, announcing cuts of up to 31 basis points on some of its loans.

Auckland

Naomi Ballantyne has been selected to the Accuro board of directors.

South Canterbury Finance, the finance company owned by Allan Hubbard, halted allotments under its debenture programme and plans to issue a new prospectus pending its capital review and the extension of the Deposit Guarantee Scheme.

Wellington

Nationwide

Sovereign has appointed international life insurance executive Charles Anderson as its new head.

Commodity prices came under pressure throughout 2008 as the world fell into recession and global demand dried up; however, commodities are now regaining value again - what's behind this recent bounce and is it sustainable?

Manukau City Council reopens bond issue; All quiet on the deposit front (for now).

Grant Baker of Business Bakery has joined the board of Dorchester Pacific as a non-executive director.

Several banks are playing down the risk of the housing market overheating again soon, with BNZ Capital suggesting it will take "an awful lot to blow a bigger bubble from here".