Advisory firm warning on research houses, New commodities fund, Mercer outsources Super Trust functions.

Tower Health & Life has lowered the majority of its Stand Alone Trauma and Permanent Disability premiums as part of a drive to provide affordable living insurance to New Zealanders. Premiums for some ages and sums insured have decreased by more than 50%.

The Weekly Wrap is a round up of all news and events during the past week.

A Green Party study of 25 KiwiSaver providers shows only one could be reasonably described as providing a "responsible investment" option for the public.

The report presented by Bridgecorp's receivers on the state of the collapsed company is extremely different to the one the failed finance firm's management were telling advisers recently.

Wellington

Bridgecorp investors could receive anything between 25c and 74c for each dollar invested, with the wide range partly due to complex offshore investments, receivers said today.

Hamilton

Westpac-owned BT Funds Management is predicting that there will be further hikes in the official cash rate.

Auckland

Adverse market conditions hurting, Lombard holding extra cash. Comment: Bridgecorp and advisers.

Polson Higgs joins up with Plan B, Chinks appearing in housing market, Two funds extended, Deemed rate of return set.

Getting advisers' views on the hot issues.