Tower hits a 19-year high.

Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard held the official cash rate at 3%, as expected, and said the track for future rate hikes would be "more moderate" than previous forecasts, as the Christchurch earthquake disrupts an already slowing recovery.

Ongoing litigation has Five Star Finance's liquidator is keeping mum on the amount of funds on hand in the trust account and where it is committed.

Hastings Building Society members have signed off on a bid to merge with SBS Bank that will give the mutual more security as tough rules for non-bank draw closer.

Prime Minister John Key rejected claims the government’s decision to place Allan Hubbard and some of his business interests under statutory management as to blame for South Canterbury Finance’s misfortune.

South Canterbury Finance doubts it will meet the Reserve Bank's new regime for non-bank deposits takers when they come into effect, and has already made overtures about getting an exemption.

Veiled support for inflation-indexed tax on saving and invest was the biggest hint Finance Minister Bill English dropped when announcing a new advisory group.

Dorchester Pacific, which kept receivers at bay by convincing investors to accept a grab-bag of securities in exchange for their debentures and notes, has raised $10.3 million through the offer.

The Code Committee’s exhaustive consultation has pushed adviser regulation beyond its budget this year.

Investors have given Allied Farmers the thumbs down as Guardian Trust figures out what to do over Allied Nationwide’s trust deed breach.

The Institute of Financial Advisers is railing against the levy regulators will charge advisers to pay for the new regime, after Parliament approved regulations locking in the fees for authorisation.

The Bank of New Zealand beat out Kiwibank for retail deposits in the June quarter.

Allied Nationwide Finance was always facing a credit rating downgrade, though its covenant breach got it deeper into dangerous territory.

Dorchester Pacific will allot its four new classes of securities for debenture holders who agreed to its recapitalisation plan by the end of the month.

Westpac won the day in the tussle for six-month cash last week, as five institutions hikes rates in that space.

Greenstone Energy bond launched; Retired banker to assess Aorangi hardship cases; PGG Wrightson boosts profits and deposits; Halifax sent ot liquidator.