SBS Bank has reported improved earnings helped by profitable work with first home buyers.

Credit reporting agency Centrix says the pressure of inflation is continuing to cause lending levels to drop.

Australian mortgage advisers have been told there is no need for financial clawbacks to be imposed on them any more.

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) says it wants to help advisers overcome a pattern of inadequate record keeping in the past.

Forecasts that the Official Cash Rate (OCR) will approach 4% are being questioned by bank economists.

The financial services sector fears the Government is pulling back on its funding of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) at the same time as it is loading it with greater responsibilities.

There is near universal expectation that the base interest rate will go up by another 50 points on Wednesday.

The Government is to make it easier for more people to get into housing.

The much-criticised Financial Markets (Conduct of Institutions) Amendment Bill, or COFI, took another leap forward in parliament yesterday, passing its second reading and going on to consideration by the Committee of the Whole House next week.

FSCL expects increasing number of mortgage complaints.

Financial Advice New Zealand, is hopeful of untangling at least some of the bureaucratic knots which risk strangling a big portion of the financial advice industry.

Westpac reports a mixed bag of results but describes its overall performance in the first half of the year as "solid".

BNZ lifted its first half profit 7.4% to $709 million.

ANZ has increased its net profit after tax 18% on the back of increased home loan market share.

New research shows the Bank of Mum and Dad is a busy little lender which more than competes with some High Street rivals.

Business lender Prospa has recorded a highly profitable three months and is gearing up for one of its biggest months.