Briefing papers from the Inland Revenue Department to the new government show it is luke warm on the idea of tax incentives for savings.

The National Party's ACC spokesman Gerry Brownlee, says New Zealand needs to look at mandatory savings schemes

Wellington

Christchurch

Colonial FS property fund profits, Westpac talks to BT, AMP reduces retail property, New standards for analysts.

Credit rating agencies Standard and Poor's and Moody's have given RSA companies credit downgrades.

Sovereign has posted an after tax profit of $65 million for the year ending June 30 and reckons it would have been much higher if the world sharemarkets hadn't tumbled.

Reports out of Australia say it is getting harder for Royal & SunAlliance to sell its Australian and New Zealand assets.