Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard raised interest rates, blaming strong household demand, the strong housing market and relatively robust consumer confidence.

Most economists are expecting the Reserve Bank to hold interest rates steady when it releases its next monetary policy statement on Thursday but governor Alan Bollard’s comments are likely to be on the hawkish side.

Westpac continued to gain market share in the mortgage market during the March quarter following its significant gains in the December quarter, its latest general disclosure document shows.

It seems Bank of New Zealand's recently launched TotalMoney accounts aim to be all things to all people.

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has raised interest rates but has given no indication as to whether further rate hikes will be needed, which is being interpreted as on the dovish side.

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has raised interest rates but has given no indication as to whether further rate hikes will be needed, which is being interpreted as on the dovish side.

Economists are almost evenly divided on whether Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard will raise rates on Thursday but they still expect him to be talking tough.

ANZ/National Bank is proposing to cut the upfront commissions it pays mortgage brokers by to 45 basis points from June 1.

ASB Bank lost market share of the mortgage market in the December quarter, its first loss since the June quarter of 2003, although its net profit for the quarter jumped 21.6%.

Pyne Gould Corp's Perpetual Trust decided to sell its 60% stake in mortgage broker Mortgage Express because changes in the mortgage market meant the holding was no longer strategic.

The still-buoyant housing market has most economists expecting Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard will raise interest rates Thursday and they don’t think recent turmoil in international equity and currency markets will make any difference.

New Zealand’s largest and smallest home-lending banks both increased profits sharply in the December quarter, although both lost ground in the mortgage market.

UPDATED: Westpac has been a winner in the home loan wars, increasing its market share, while BNZ has gone backwards.

The government's Kiwibank continues to grow apace with profitability lifting sharply in the December quarter while its share of the mortgage market continues to grow.

Although Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard left interest rates unchanged, as expected, his hawkish tone makes it seem almost certain he will raise rates in March.

Most economists expect Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard will seize on lower than expected inflation figures and weak September quarter economic growth figures as an excuse to hold interest rates steady next week. But it will be a close decision.