COMMENT: The narrative regarding central banks and interest rates around the world has changed markedly in a few short months.

The Financial Markets Authority is bracing for rapid changes as a result of technology advances with robo-advice the most obvious candidate.

The maker of Cillit Bang, Nurofen and Durex condoms has sealed a $90-a-share takeover of a US baby milk maker.

COMMENT: There's danger in relying on crowds. But crowd wisdom is often cited as the justification for the idea of efficient asset markets.

John Church, Bayleys' national director commercial and industrial, says childcare is all the rage in the commercial property market.

It will take years to restore trust in the finance industry says the boss of New Zealand's investment regulator.

Fast-growth companies are exciting investments. But they are not for the faint-hearted or the unprepared, writes Shane Solly.

Cynics might view vitamins and supplements as little more than snake oil, but Australasian investors are taking a bullish view on the natural products sector's growth prospects, particularly in China.

New Zealand shares dropped yesterday in a global selloff after weak Chinese manufacturing data added to concern about the world's second-largest economy.

Financial Markets Authority chief executive Rob Everett says the settlement with Milford Asset Management over market manipulation issues has been an uncomfortable wake-up call.

Last week the world's greatest living investor and third richest person made his first foray into the Australian stock market with a A$500 million stake in insurer IAG.

It's a tough time to be an investment banker in Southeast Asia. Mergers involving Southeast Asian companies have dropped 45 per cent this year to the lowest level since 2009.

Irving Kahn, the Manhattan money manager who predicted the 1929 Wall St crash, has died aged 109.

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund says it remains comfortable with its investment in the US oil and gas industry.

Oceania Healthcare is on track for an initial public offering in early 2015, aged-care operator's chief executive, Earl Gasparich, says he's also in talks with private investors and funds.

The new-found wealth of entrepreneur Kim Dotcom came in part from an immigrant who has had at least $15m in assets seized in a money-laundering inquiry.

New Zealand could be on the cusp of a big lift in mergers and acquisitions activity, driven in part by increasing Asian interest in local companies.

Christchurch agribusiness company Scales said it had registered a prospectus for an IPO and sharemarket float today.

Banks stepped in to save the economic system, writes Bob Jones. Had they not, the world would have descended into anarchy with mass unemployment.

There have been a number of recent comments that the NZ sharemarket is overvalued, just as it was in the mid-1980s, writes Brian Gaynor.

Hellaby Holdings expects to add $20m to annual revenue after buying New Zealand Trucks South Island and Dasko Marketing NZ.

Newer crowdfunding sites are giving investors the chance to earn something other than t-shirts and trial products - money.

Around a dozen companies have indicated interest in setting up crowd-funding as new rules come into force making it easier for businesses to raise capital.

Companies that want to list and raise money on a new market proposed by the stock exchange won't have to provide investors with prospective financial information.

Almost 4000 out-of-pocket Lombard investors will still get only "peanuts" after the failed finance firm's receivers reached a $10 million settlement with its directors.

Fixed interest investors face a flurry of bond issuance over the next week or so as corporates look to lock in favourable funding rates.

It's finally happened and the world hasn't ended. "Tapering" is under way and the sun still rises in the east.

Westpac New Zealand said it had an offer of September 2018 bonds aimed at raising up to $800 million.

Having a culture where star talent was allowed to make investment decisions without being checked was a big driver of the global financial crisis.

Investment market players are gearing up for the biggest shake-up in more than decade.