Prudential may quit the New Zealand market quickly if its $35.5 billion purchase of American International Group's (AIG's) AIA goes ahead.

Economists are expecting a more downbeat tone to the Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Statement this Thursday, but no surprises as it tries to retain flexibility in when it will start policy tightening.

New Zealand is getting to the stage where it may make sense to fix mortgage rates at one or two years according to BNZ economist Tony Alexander as he previews next week's Official Cash Rate announcement.

American International Group (AIG) agreed yesterday to sell its Hong Kong-based insurance business AIA, which includes AIA in New Zealand, to Prudential.

David Chamberlain has been appointed head of bancassurance at Kiwibank where he will lead a revamp of its insurance product line.

The government has proposed it will review the tax treatment of annuities in response to the Capital Markets Development (CMD) Taskforce recommendation and the financial adviser industry says the review is a must because of KiwiSaver.

The New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association (NZMBA) is the first association to join up en masse to an external disputes resolution scheme.

Despite the National Bank Business Outlook survey suggesting a recovery for 2010 remains on track, most economists believe other data shows volatility.

Low floating mortgage rates have not produced a surge in borrowing says BNZ economist Tony Alexander.

The Society of Independent Financial Advisers (SIFA) figures it will have to change its name soon and is pondering its place in the new, regulated world.

Sue Tierney resigned from the board of the New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association (NZMBA) yesterday.

Predictions for an OCR hike have jumped from April to June and now economists are tempted to push this out to July because of softening data.

The Capital Market Development (CMD) Taskforce says its recommendations are not entirely about what the government should do, but also about what industry should do.

Trade Me Property saw a record number of unique browsers and enquiries about properties in January despite sales being at a two-decade low.

Southern Cross Medical Care Society has launched a Critical Illness Plan which will be available to members from March.

Just as we have seen the Reserve Bank of Australia pause in their tightening cycle after three rate rises, it is certain our own central bank will carefully assess the impact of its rate rises, pausing if the need arises says BNZ economist Tony Alexander.