Westpac’s profit fell sharply in the December quarter as its tax bill jumped while ASB Bank’s profit grew strongly and it continued to increase its share of the mortgage market.

Bank of New Zealand continued to lose a small amount of mortgage market share in the December quarter although its profit grew 18.8%.

Kiwibank is to buy a 51% stake in New Zealand Home Loans for about $8 million.

The New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association is keeping an open mind on regulation and will consider all options.

Superbank continued to grow both its mortgage book and deposit base in the three months ended December and pared its losses significantly from the same three months a year earlier.

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard produced few surprises in leaving interest rates unchanged and firmly ruling out any easy this year.

The New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association is having trouble collecting its first advertising levy from members which is needed to pay for the current high-profile television advertising campaign.

Just about nobody expects Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard will change interest rates on Thursday, the debate being over whether he will maintain a mild bias towards higher rates or switch to a more neutral stance.

ANZ National Bank's profit jumped 19% in the December quarter but the bank continued to bleed a small amount of market share in the mortgage market, more than two years after ANZ took over National.

ANZ National Bank's profit jumped 19% in the December quarter but the bank continued to bleed a small amount of market share in the mortgage market, more than two years after ANZ took over National.

Axa Asia Pacific Holdings has taken advantage of a slump in Salvus Strategic Investments' share price to increase its stake to 7.22%.

TSB Bank increased its share of the mortgage market a smidgeon in the December quarter, although its rate of profit growth slowed markedly.

Kiwibank continues to growth its market share of the mortgage market at the same time as dramatically improving profitability.

Liberty Financial would be prepared to consider allowing New Zealand Finance Holdings to take Mike Pero Mortgages private if that's in the best interests of the mortgage broking company, says Liberty founder Sherman Ma.

After four years trying to build up a business out of providing finance companies with both quantitative and qualitative credit ratings, Rapid Ratings has decided to pull out of that segment of the market.

Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard has left interest rates unchanged, as expected, but is ruling out any prospect of interest rates falling.