The Government-owned Kiwibank's profitability went backwards in the December quarter, the first time since inception it didn't improve, but its mortgage book continues to grow much faster than its market share.

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has left interest rates unchanged and reaffirmed his expectation he will begin hiking rates around the middle of the year.

Benign inflation numbers put paid to any expectations Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard to hike rates on Thursday and the debate is now focused on the first rate rise of the current cycle coming somewhere between March and June.

SBS Bank’s September quarter net profit fell 12%, largely reflecting a drop in net interest income, while its share of the mortgage market held steady over the quarter.

Westpac's New Zealand subsidiary saw a sharp drop in profitability in the September quarter, reflecting rising charges against profit for bad loans, although its mortgage lending grew faster than the average of the other banks.

It seems what really scuppered DNZ Property Fund's up to $140 million capital raising and plans to list on the NZX was MMG Advisory Partners' threat of legal action over alleged breaches of the Companies Act and DNZ's constitution.

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard surprised financial markets by taking a slightly more hawkish stance on when interest rates need to rise again, bringing him more in line with what most economists are thinking.

National Australia Bank-owned Bank of New Zealand was barely profitable in the September quarter, partly reflecting increased charges for bad loans, and its mortgage book grew sluggishly.

Bank of New Zealand was barely profitable in the September quarter, partly reflecting increased charges for bad loans, and its mortgage book grew sluggishly.

Kiwibank's mortgage book growth moderated slightly in the September quarter but was still well in excess of its market share and its profitability continued to grow.

Nobody is expecting Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard to raise interest rates on Thursday, despite the strong than expected economic developments since his last monetary policy statement in September.

UPDATED: MMG Advisory Partners has legal advice which could scupper DNZ Property Fund's up to $140 million capital raising and plans to list on the NZX.

The HongKong & Shanghai Banking Corp's New Zealand branch's mortgage book continued to shrink during the September quarter but its profitability jumped sharply, despite an equally sharp rise in charges for bad loans.

Community-owned TSB Bank's September quarter profit jumped 26% and its mortgage book grew strongly.

MMG Advisory Partners strongly opposes DNZ Property Fund’s up to $140 million deeply discounted capital raising and the terms of the buy-out of the management contract.

Trying to establish the state of Australia-based ANZ Bank's position in the New Zealand mortgage market is impossible from the information disclosed in its September quarter general disclosure statement (GDS).