Home loan rates are currently subject to two opposing forces and it is not clear if there will be one decisive winner, or if the two will cancel each other out.

Central Region

American International Group (AIG) is being bailed out by the United States government to the tune of US$85 billion.

Southern Cross Healthcare has made three key appointments.

Sovereign, has again achieved the overall number one position for adviser satisfaction in the recent annual intermediary survey carried out by Australian firm WA Taylor.

Napier

While American International Group’s Standard and Poor’s rating has been put on CreditWatch with negative implications the rating of the New Zealand business remains unchanged.

The clock is ticking on whether or not the Financial Advisers Bill (FAB) will make it through Parliament before it rises for the election.

Auckland

Standard & Poor's Ratings has reviewed Equitable’s ratings and left them unchanged at BB+, but has moved them from stable to negative.

Waikato/BOP

Auckland

Nationwide

The Reserve Bank today reduced the official cash rate (OCR) by 50 basis points from 8.0% to 7.5%.

The Reserve Bank today reduced the official cash rate (OCR) from 6.5% to 5.0%.