Small finance company, Numeria Finance, which is related to failed finance company Capital + Merchant Finance, has gone into receivership.

Changes to the WiNZ fund, First cash PIE for advisers on wrap. Big gain for investors.

Our focus this week has been on the new regulations advisers face, and trying to make sure readers understand some of the issues.

One of the growing product segments in investment markets at the moment is what can be called absolute return funds. These are the funds which offer capital protection as well as exposure to market gains by investing in a range of underlying investments.

Summary of the key features of Kauri Notes invested in Merrill Lynch Prosper Notes Permal Delta.

A government discussion document released today sets out proposals for fairer taxation of the life insurance business.

Wellington

Provincial Finance debenture holders are getting another payment of 7.5c in the dollar, taking total payouts so far to 72.5c.

The new Celsius fund being promoted in New Zealand by Macquarie is another option for investors to get international share exposure, but lower risks than normal.

New Zealand Finance has secured two significant lending facilities, one from ASB's parent, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), and the other from Westpac.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services says that the level of loans underlying New Zealand residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) that are in arrears by more than 30 days maintained its long-term downward trend in August, recording 1.89%.

Internationally investors are dedicating larger slices of their total investment portfolio to private equity, hedge funds and real estate, than previously and the trend is likely to happen in New Zealand too.

Hamilton