Finally it seems there is some good news for borrowers at the moment. After a long period of rising home loan rates there are clear signs that things area turning around.

Auckland

Select Committee hearings on advisers brought forward; New association officially confirmed, For Barr gets into KiwiSaver; DecisionMakers buys firm.
Parliament's Finance and Expenditure Select Committee is due to start hearings on the Financial Advisers Bill and the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Disputes Resolution) Bill this week.

Auckland

Tower Investments has appointed Roger Perry as head of retail - investments for Tower's KiwiSaver and retail managed funds.

New Zealand investment managers are bearish on almost every asset class according to the latest Investment Manager Outlook published by Russell Investments.

ASB Group Investments have announced the appointment of Stuart Bremner as the new Head of ASB Group Investments.

Another long term driver of value will be the emerging markets. We explain what constitutes an emerging market and their growing importance. We will be commenting further on these markets, including efficient ways to access them with your 2007 Morningstar International Equities (and overall) Fund Manager of the Year.

There are some difficult times ahead for global and New Zealand economies. Inflation (and potentially stagflation) is now a global problem. In this month's Tyndall comment, we profile the issues and drivers of these economic circumstances.

New tax rules for foreign funds, introduced last year, are so complicated that few investors will be able to do their own returns.

AIG Life has launched a new mortgage protection cover policy which offers consumers a range of mortgage-linked life insurance benefits, to gain premium savings over the term of their home loan.

A national strategy for financial literacy, which sets the direction for improving financial literacy in New Zealand has been launched.

Geneva Finance has appointed two new directors following the acceptance of its capital reconstruction proposal.

Tauranga

Hamilton