Latest from Banking and finance

Firms target opportunities in high dollar
Most New Zealand corporates have learned how to deal with a high exchange rate and are now looking at the opportunities it presents for investing overseas, HSBC's New Zealand chief executive, Noel....

Dollar drifts lower as crude oil prices continue slide
The New Zealand dollar fell as the continued decline in crude oil prices stoked concern that global economic growth may be faltering

Investors must demand better governance
Institutional shareholders need to place more focus on demanding quality corporate governance from firms they have investments in, says FMA chief executive Rob Everett.

Scrap heats up over $18.5m finance settlement
The Australian wing of a United States investment fund could swoop in front of Capital + Merchant Finance investors and take a chunk of an $18.5 million settlement.

Consumer confidence bounces back
Consumers are feeling more cheerful going into the peak Christmas trading period, the ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence survey has found.

Factory sector keeps growing
New Zealand manufacturing activity eased from a 15-month high in November, while remaining in expansion for the 26th consecutive month, as production and new orders declined in the month.

Diana Clement: Doing your best for kids once you're gone
Do you want to go to the grave knowing your hard-earned savings won't be wasted? Would you like to ensure little Holly or Olly can use the money only to buy a home?

Judge's pity in fraud case
The Serious Fraud Office's highly-trumpeted "largest ever" fraud case in New Zealand history has ended with a broke ex-lawyer getting home detention.

Rate rise date drifts further out
The Reserve Bank still sees interest rate increases in our future, but fewer and further away than it thought three months ago.

Banks face warning from FMA
The Financial Markets Authority has warned it may name and shame banks or even restrict their licences if alleged KiwiSaver mis-selling and switching practices are allowed to continue.

Bank gets theatre in motion
The curtain is rising on the long-awaited Auckland Theatre Company's new Wynyard Quarter complex after ASB Bank upped its contribution.

Civil servant bosses' pay at record low
Senior New Zealand public servants' and chief executives' total collective pay is at the lowest level in six years.

Reserve Bank won't halt rises
The Reserve Bank has left the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 3.5 per cent, saying any further rate hikes are likely to be at a later stage.

Trinity tax architect fails to halt action
An architect of the Trinity forestry tax scheme has failed to convince the High Court to halt bankruptcy action against him.

NZ resident fights rates charges
New Zealand resident Darrell Read is fighting charges from Britain's Serious Fraud Office that allege he was part of an international rates rigging scheme.

Dollar rebounds after touching 2-year low against US
The New Zealand dollar rebounded after touching a fresh two-and-a-half year low as investors sold US dollars

Oz banks need extra capital
Commonwealth Bank of Australia and its three main rivals may need as much as A$30 billion ($32.4 billion) in fresh capital.

NZ manufacturing sales rise
Manufacturing sales rose in the third quarter as an increase in output of metal building products offset a decline for both meat and dairy.

Herald Business Leader of the Year
Today we count down to the announcement of the Herald Business Leader of the Year. Here are the first of this year’s nominees. The winner will be named on Saturday.

Big four Aussie banks face shake-up
Australian banks should be forced to hold more capital to minimise their risk of failure and improve competition, the Financial System Inquiry has found.

Middle-age mortgage? No way
Middle-aged home buyers face being locked out of the property market because banks are worried they are too old to pay off their mortgage before they retire.

Working hard to keep staff happy
It's been in the news recently that Apple and Facebook have offered to freeze eggs for female employees, the purpose is, apparently, to attract more women on to their staff.