Bernard Hickey | interest.co.nz

About

Bernard is back as a senior contributor on interest.co.nz. Until September 30, 2012 he was the managing editor here. He had previously worked for 18 years for Reuters, the FT Group and Fairfax as a financial journalist and editor. He is now the publisher of The Kaka.

Member for

15 years 6 months

Latest articles

Labour drops GST and tax exemptions

Cunliffe drops Labour proposals to exempt GST on fruit and veges and to exempt first NZ$5,000 of income from tax

22nd Jan 14, 12:04pm

by Bernard Hickey

Cunliffe drops Labour proposals to exempt GST on fruit and veges and to exempt first NZ$5,000 of income from tax

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10 at 10: Secular stagnation, asset bubbles and the need for inflation; Chinese developers surge into Sydney; A bitcoin ATM; Truffle laundering; Credit = Gold #1; Dilbert

22nd Jan 14, 10:37am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10 at 10: Secular stagnation, asset bubbles and the need for inflation; Chinese developers surge into Sydney; A bitcoin ATM; Truffle laundering; Credit = Gold #1; Dilbert

Inflation higher than expected

Inflation of 0.1% in Dec qtr higher than forecasts for deflation of around 0.2%; Annual inflation hits 1.6% in year to Dec qtr

21st Jan 14, 10:54am

by Bernard Hickey

Inflation of 0.1% in Dec qtr higher than forecasts for deflation of around 0.2%; Annual inflation hits 1.6% in year to Dec qtr

What about the workers?

Will the fruits of economic recovery and an apparent increase in productivity be passed on in the form of higher wages?

19th Jan 14, 6:48am

by Bernard Hickey

Will the fruits of economic recovery and an apparent increase in productivity be passed on in the form of higher wages?

Bernard's Top 10 picks for 2014

Here's the leading indicators Bernard Hickey is watching in 2014: Chinese dairy output; Shibor; Auckland building consents; Euro-deflation and more

15th Jan 14, 11:49am

by Bernard Hickey

Here's the leading indicators Bernard Hickey is watching in 2014: Chinese dairy output; Shibor; Auckland building consents; Euro-deflation and more

Business confidence up to 20 yr high

NZIER QSBO survey shows business confidence about economy at 20 year high; inflation still subdued but expected to rise

14th Jan 14, 10:00am

by Bernard Hickey

NZIER QSBO survey shows business confidence about economy at 20 year high; inflation still subdued but expected to rise

Party like its 1974 and 1994

Bernard Hickey wonders how the party will go when the RBNZ takes the punchbowl off the table by increasing interest rates

22nd Dec 13, 7:49am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey wonders how the party will go when the RBNZ takes the punchbowl off the table by increasing interest rates

Roost home loan affordability report for November

Home loan affordability worst since August 2010, deteriorates in most cities as pressure builds nationally

20th Dec 13, 3:19pm

by Bernard Hickey

Home loan affordability worst since August 2010, deteriorates in most cities as pressure builds nationally

Bernard's last Top 10 for 2013

Bernard's Top 10: America's currency manipulation exceptionalism; Larry Summers and the secular stagnation; Thomas Piketty's chart back to BC; Dilbert

20th Dec 13, 2:24pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: America's currency manipulation exceptionalism; Larry Summers and the secular stagnation; Thomas Piketty's chart back to BC; Dilbert

Why the Avatar deal makes no sense

Bernard Hickey agrees with Treasury's objections to the increased rebates to win the Avatar movies. They're unfair, uneconomic, fiscally imprudent and rushed

18th Dec 13, 2:20pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey agrees with Treasury's objections to the increased rebates to win the Avatar movies. They're unfair, uneconomic, fiscally imprudent and rushed

Govt cuts borrowing by NZ$5 bln

NZ Govt says will borrow NZ$5 bln less in 2013/14 after underlying budget position improves as economic growth surges

17th Dec 13, 1:04pm

by Bernard Hickey

NZ Govt says will borrow NZ$5 bln less in 2013/14 after underlying budget position improves as economic growth surges

Govt lifts subsidy to win Avatar movies

James Cameron signs up to make 3 more Avatar movies in NZ after Govt almost doubles rebate for big foreign movie productions

16th Dec 13, 12:46pm

by Bernard Hickey

James Cameron signs up to make 3 more Avatar movies in NZ after Govt almost doubles rebate for big foreign movie productions

Dutch Disease down under

Bernard Hickey explores how some of the riches being generated from 'white gold' can be put aside for the future to avoid distorting our economy now

15th Dec 13, 8:00am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey explores how some of the riches being generated from 'white gold' can be put aside for the future to avoid distorting our economy now

10 of the RBNZ's best MPS charts

Bernard Hickey picks out 10 charts from the Reserve Bank's December Monetary Policy Statement to explain the economic outlook

13th Dec 13, 7:33pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey picks out 10 charts from the Reserve Bank's December Monetary Policy Statement to explain the economic outlook

Bernard's Top 10

Bernard's Top 10: 'The rent's too damn high'; Progressive capitalism; The new welfare queens; How Govt subsidises low wages; Dilbert

12th Dec 13, 1:38pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: 'The rent's too damn high'; Progressive capitalism; The new welfare queens; How Govt subsidises low wages; Dilbert

What the RBNZ's OCR decision means

Bernard Hickey looks at what the Reserve Bank's OCR decision means for mortgage rates and house prices

12th Dec 13, 1:04pm

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey looks at what the Reserve Bank's OCR decision means for mortgage rates and house prices

RBNZ lifts interest rate forecast

RBNZ holds OCR at 2.5%, but raises forecast rate hike track by 10 bps; indicating OCR at 4.75% by early 2016

12th Dec 13, 9:08am

by Bernard Hickey

RBNZ holds OCR at 2.5%, but raises forecast rate hike track by 10 bps; indicating OCR at 4.75% by early 2016

English eyes regulatory 'health check'

Responding to stock market concerns about regulatory risk, Finance Minister Bill English flags 'health check' of telecoms and power regulation

10th Dec 13, 11:45am

by Bernard Hickey

Responding to stock market concerns about regulatory risk, Finance Minister Bill English flags 'health check' of telecoms and power regulation

JB Were downgrades NZ stocks

JB Were says reduce exposure to NZ stocks, citing over-valuation relative to rest of world, rising rates and political risk

9th Dec 13, 11:23am

by Bernard Hickey

JB Were says reduce exposure to NZ stocks, citing over-valuation relative to rest of world, rising rates and political risk

When prices goes bad

Bernard Hickey argues lower consumer prices are not always a good thing and warns of the structurally heavy forces of deflation gathering around the world

8th Dec 13, 7:54am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard Hickey argues lower consumer prices are not always a good thing and warns of the structurally heavy forces of deflation gathering around the world

Govt deficit lower than forecast

Treasury reports budget deficit already NZ$395 mln lower than expected four months into the financial year

6th Dec 13, 10:02am

by Bernard Hickey

Treasury reports budget deficit already NZ$395 mln lower than expected four months into the financial year

Bernard's Top 10 at 10

Bernard's Top 10: Japan's umpteenth stimulus package; Calls for higher minimum wages; China tightening monetary policy; A US$10 bln freedom ship; Dilbert

5th Dec 13, 10:37am

by Bernard Hickey

Bernard's Top 10: Japan's umpteenth stimulus package; Calls for higher minimum wages; China tightening monetary policy; A US$10 bln freedom ship; Dilbert

Adams says Chorus faces shortfall

Citing initial EY report, Amy Adams says Chorus will have to make up "significant portion" of UFB shortfall

5th Dec 13, 9:54am

by Bernard Hickey

Citing initial EY report, Amy Adams says Chorus will have to make up "significant portion" of UFB shortfall

Banks won't stand again in Epsom

Epsom MP John Banks announces withdrawal from politics after High Court rules he must stand trial on electoral fraud allegations

4th Dec 13, 11:42am

by Bernard Hickey

Epsom MP John Banks announces withdrawal from politics after High Court rules he must stand trial on electoral fraud allegations

ACC vehicle levy cut delayed for a year

Govt agrees to ACC's recommended cuts in Work levy and Earners levy, but delays motor vehicle cuts to 2015/16

2nd Dec 13, 5:47pm

by Bernard Hickey

Govt agrees to ACC's recommended cuts in Work levy and Earners levy, but delays motor vehicle cuts to 2015/16