The 24 per cent rise in the New Zealand sharemarket's top 50 companies index over the past year is keeping market investors' confidence high - as high as property investors.

Articles are starting to come out of house prices falling in various regions. And when you look at graphs of price trends adjusted for inflation - which show we've had the biggest boom since the mid 70s - it's hardly surprising.

A squeeze on premium office space should help offset rising interest rates and see healthy investor returns during the next few years, Robert Lang, head of AMP NZ Office Trust, says.

Higher construction costs, petrol prices and council rates kept inflation bubbling along in the September quarter, keeping the pressure on the Reserve Bank to increase interest rates for a sixth time later this month.

BNZ started things a week ago when it widely advertised a promise that it will have “the lowest advertised two-year fixed home loan rate of the big four banks.”

The latest data from the Reserve Bank shows that floating home loans are sinking in popularity with borrowers in New Zealand.

Housing continued to become less affordable in the three months to September due to rising interest rates according to figures released today.

Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index, rose to an 18 month high of 2.5% in the September year.

The liquidators of Access Brokerage said today they have yet to hear from half the people owed money by the failed sharebroker.

A new cost of living index which would more accurately capture housing costs has been recommended by a review of the way the statisticians measure inflation.

Press Release: Barfoot and Thompson

CDL Hotels has sold a shopping centre and marina in Australia for $A111 million ($NZ120 million).

The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.6% in the September quarter, pushed up by a 1.6% rise in the housing sector and taking the annual inflation rate to 2.5%.

Finance Minister Michael Cullen has again ruled out "across-the-board" tax cuts, saying the fiscal position of the Government is not as rosy as some are painting it.

Mirvac Group – noted in Auckland as developer of the Quay West apartments hotel - said late on Tuesday it would acquire James Fielding Group, but that James Fielding managing director Greg Paramor would take over the helm from Bob Hamilton.

Inflation will hold steady at 2.4 per cent for the September year, according to some bank forecasts, but it will not be low enough to prevent more interest rate rises.