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.

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard met expectations by keeping official interest rates unchanged and by talking tough but still managed to surprise wholesale interest rate and currency markets with his forecasts.

Whether or not Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard decides to hike interest rates on Thursday appears to be a finely balanced decision, but a slim majority of economists now think he will.

HSBC has lifted its second quarter net profit 12.9%, although its share of the mortgage market continues to slide.

ANZ National Bank has reported a sharply higher third quarter net profit and increased its market share of the mortgage market marginally for a second consecutive quarter.

Although Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard left interest rates unchanged, as expected, he’s again talking tough and opened the door to the possibility of a further rate hike.