Investment advisers will be required to provide up-front disclosure of fees and remuneration including commission from February 29, Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel says.

The big news in the finance company sector last week was the collapse of Capital + Merchant, but that hasn't slowed down competition between remaining players.

ABN AMRO is offering investors the opportunity to invest in the Global Equities Hindsight Securities. This is a capital protected fund with performance linked to a basket of global equity indices.

Credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has placed Cymbis, a company related to Capital + Merchant finance, on negative watch, but has not lowered its ratings.

Standard & Poor's has given Equitable Mortgages a BB+ long-term and B short-term issuer credit ratings. The outlook on both companies is stable.

New Zealand's efforts to be economically strong should include increased capital investment by manufacturing and other firms, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen says.

Auckland

NZX has acquired a 30% shareholding in Appello Services Limited (ASL), a funds management services business.

Sydney

Christchurch

The international credit crunch is hitting close to home for New Zealand investors, with a company that issued investment bonds being placed on a trading halt after its Australian hedge fund manager ran into problems.

The international credit crunch is hitting close to home for New Zealand investors, with a company that issued investment bonds being placed on a trading halt after its Australian hedge fund manager ran into problems.