Tools to research life insurance policies are likely to become more widely used in New Zealand should any form of adviser regulation come into force following the taskforce.

Two broad trends emerged in the home loan market last week. The larger lenders, and those associated with banks, dropped their short-term rates, while a number of non-bank lenders increased their fixed rates.

The Auckland property market is back on track according to Barfoot & Thompson’s February sales results.

St Laurence finally gets its Hilton investment up, chances of interest rate rise increasing, IRD warns over trading trusts, and more.

Economists are divided as to whether the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates on Thursday with a narrow majority expecting no change.

Auckland rental prices are static despite increasing property rises, latest research shows

Two more major financial planning groups, Money Managers and Westpac Bank, have had their adviser education programmes endorsed by the Financial Planners and Insurance Advisers Association.

Christchurch

Foreign currency trader FX Invest says there is a growing interest in currency as a form of investment and the returns are good at the moment because of the volatility in FX markets.

Strategic Finance has reported an unaudited net profit after tax of $11 million for the six months ended December 31, 2004. This compares to $10.1 million for the same period last year.

Auckland