New Zealand shares gained as the dollar sank following the official cash rate update, with Pushpay Holdings recovering from recent selling and Skycity Entertainment Group continuing to gain.

MARKET CLOSE: New Zealand shares fell, led lower by Pushpay Holdings' continued weakness, while Skycity Entertainment Group gained on its strong annual results.

Axa Asia Pacific Holdings and its parent Axa SA have signed binding transaction documents with rival wealth manager AMP to sell its New Zealand and Australian businesses for some A$13.3 billion in cash and scrip.

AMP has teamed with AXA SA of France in a renewed takeover proposal for Australia's AXA Asia Pacific, valuing the target at A$13.3 billion.

Allan Hubbard's investment vehicle Southbury Group has been sent to the receivers in a bid to secure control of South Canterbury Finance by seizing the parent’s documents.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today lifted the cash rate another 25 basis points to 4.75% which was unexpected as a hike was not forecast by most till December.

Investors in failed financier Strategic Finance Ltd. could get as little as 12 cents in the dollar out of their debenture stock after bids for the firm's loan book fell short of expectations.

Investors holding the listed perpetual bonds of Allied Nationwide Finance Ltd., the failed finance unit of Allied Farmers Ltd., won't get their money back, as the securities are not covered by the government's guarantee.

PGG Wrightson Finance, a unit of rural service provider PGG Wrightson, has secured a $100 million bank facility to help it get past the extended government deposit guarantee scheme.  

Making KiwiSaver a compulsory savings isn't the silver bullet to address New Zealand's dismal savings record, with the evidence across the Tasman unclear, according to the Savings Working Group.

Fidelity Life Assurance says its biggest shareholders, with 70% of the company, plan to reject rival Tower's unsolicited $118 million cash and scrip takeover offer.

Tower will have to compete with Vero Insurance for ANZ National Bank's policyholders after they agreed to end an 18-month dispute.    

National Australia Bank, the suitor advisors prefferred to take over AXA Asia Pacific, has made a decision to scrap its bid which means AMP is currently in the boxseat for the takeover unless other contenders emerge.

Southern Cross Medical Care Society reported a $7.1 million deficit after dipping into its reserves to help cope with a 7% rise in health-care claims and said its payout ratio is "unsustainable". 

Commerce Minister Simon Power has introduced several bills to Parliament today in his bid to tighten up financial market regulation after the finance company sector collapse over the past few years.

Prime Minister John Key would prefer a sale of failed financier South Canterbury Finance in one hit, as a going concern, as the receivers call for expressions of interest in the firm’s assets.