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90 seconds at 9 am: Reality checks

Fed signals watched closely; Dow at new record; OECD eeks out growth; AU coal in trouble; AU Govt hard choices; NZ$1 = US$0.816 TWI = 76.9

The Weekly Livestock report

A tough year for livestock reflected in lower tax stock values

90 seconds at 9 am: Trade tension

EU tackles China mobile companies, solar panel makers, oil traders; gold and silver recover; NZ$1 = US$0.818 TWI = 77.0

A damn good idea

Bruce Wills says the Ruataniwha Dam project will be worth the cost to farmers, drought-proofing the region. The Opuha project proves the benefits. Your view?

Key sees haircuts for Solid Energy's banks

PM Key downbeat on 'broken' Solid Energy's future after KordaMentha report arrives; says it probably has no equity and he expects banks will have to take haircuts on NZ$389 mln of debt

National average market values 2013

Tax market values give farmers a snapshot of capital losses in livestock values for 2013

Off-road light diesel vehicles get RUC exemption

On-farm diesel vehicles exemption from road user charges can now use much simpler system to comply says Fed Farmers

90 seconds at 9 am: Americans confident

Bernanke upbeat; US consumers confident; China's house prices rise; Aussie home loan war; China buying local electricity systems; NZ$1 = US$0.806 TWI = 76.3

90 seconds at 9 am: Downgrades coming ?

S&P concerned about smaller NZ banks and housing risks; US economy slowing, inflation vanishes; Japan growth shines; NZ$1 = US$0.818 TWI = 76.9

S&P may cut TSB, Co-op, Heartland ratings

Updated
S&P warns it may cut credit ratings of TSB Bank, Co-op Bank, Heartland Bank and 5 credit unions by 1 or 2 notches; cites NZ's 'economic vulnerabilities' and risk of housing slump 

Just add water

Updated
Rural irrigation grows quickly off a low base, most expansion in Canterbury for dairy conversions

90 seconds at 9 am: Sinking data

US factory prices and output sink; HSBC makes more cuts; EU deep in recession; China worried about jobless; NZ$1 = US$0.822 TWI = 77.3

Purse strings loosened in Budget 2013

Bill English set to deliver budget with around NZ$800 million of discretionary net new spending as firmer economy gives Govt more leeway 18 mths before election; Meridian float?

Lowest since 2008

March milk production fell sharply as the drought bit harder

90 seconds at 9 am: Market jungle juice

Big AU budget deficit, with spending cuts and tax increases; 'immense' China risk; investors chase yield; equities at new highs; NZ$1 = US$0.819 TWI = 77.0

The Weekly Livestock report

Good autumn grass growth helps winter prospects and reignites store lamb prices.

Tradable slaughter rights idea useful but may not be the answer

Allan Barber says the TSR proposal, rejected 28 years ago, could have solved the capacity problems then, but it has fish-hooks for the meat industry of today

90 seconds at 9 am: Diverging tracks

US retail sales better than expected; China's output stalls; Japan facing higher interest rates; Israel cuts to devalue its currency; NZ$1 = US$0.824 TWI = 77.2

Go farming, young Kiwis

Bruce Wills compares the city-country job scene and says those with the right attitude can prosper in a farm job, one with many lifestyle benefits

NZ milk powder in hot water

The fight to recover from contamination issues turning into a long-term risk

90 seconds at 9 am: Changing course

China to attack serious structural flaws; Fed to wind back stimulus; US economy sags but budget deficit falls; NZ$1 = US$0.830 TWI = 77.6

RBNZ warned of 'unintended consequences'

BNZ CEO Andrew Thorburn questions whether the big banks holding more capital against home loans where borrowers have under 20% equity will address key housing market problems

90 seconds at 9 am: Japan doubts

US dollar gains; worries about Japan grow; BofE holds rates; dairy prices fall; Key and Brown focus on Auckland housing; NZ$1 = US$0.838 TWI = 78.0

Farm safety focus

Farm health and safety and rural suicide high on agenda at Federated Farmers conference

90 seconds at 9 am: Fake exports ?

Small countries try currency intervention; China exports strong; equity markets approve; NZ$1 = US$0.839 TWI = 77.4