David Chaston

90 seconds at 9 am: Consumer spending buoys US, bond yields rise; ECB warns; EU eases; IMF cuts China growth forecast; land prices rise in Japan; no more RBA rate cuts; NZ$1 = US$0.813, TWI = 76.7

90 seconds at 9 am: Consumer spending buoys US, bond yields rise; ECB warns; EU eases; IMF cuts China growth forecast; land prices rise in Japan; no more RBA rate cuts; NZ$1 = US$0.813, TWI = 76.7

Mortgage specials testing the limits of what is commercially sustainable; banks on back foot

Mortgage specials testing the limits of what is commercially sustainable; banks on back foot

90 seconds at 9 am: US confidence, house prices at multi-year highs; OPEC rifts; Euro banks lending again; NZ$1 = US$0.810, TWI = 76.6

90 seconds at 9 am: US confidence, house prices at multi-year highs; OPEC rifts; Euro banks lending again; NZ$1 = US$0.810, TWI = 76.6

ASB offers 4.95% 1-year mortgage rate; Westpac offers 4.94%; Both target borrowers with deposit/equity worth at least 20% of loan

ASB offers 4.95% 1-year mortgage rate; Westpac offers 4.94%; Both target borrowers with deposit/equity worth at least 20% of loan

90 seconds at 9 am: France risks another rating downgrade; Germany ponders QE; Japan markets fall; bond investors chase yield sans covenants; NZ$1 = US$0.808, TWI = 76.3

90 seconds at 9 am: France risks another rating downgrade; Germany ponders QE; Japan markets fall; bond investors chase yield sans covenants; NZ$1 = US$0.808, TWI = 76.3

Home loan affordability shows seasonal improvement in April but trend still worries; toughest in major cities, easiest in provincial centres

Home loan affordability shows seasonal improvement in April but trend still worries; toughest in major cities, easiest in provincial centres

Monday's Top 10 with NZ Mint: New leverage worries; France in the dogbox; new China direction; US vs NZ corporate taxes; affordable denser housing?; Dilbert, and more

Monday's Top 10 with NZ Mint: New leverage worries; France in the dogbox; new China direction; US vs NZ corporate taxes; affordable denser housing?; Dilbert, and more

90 seconds at 9 am: German growth low; NZ wants direct convertibility with yuan; ANZ sending 500 AU jobs to NZ; beef prices higher; NZ$1 = US$0.809, TWI = 76.3

90 seconds at 9 am: German growth low; NZ wants direct convertibility with yuan; ANZ sending 500 AU jobs to NZ; beef prices higher; NZ$1 = US$0.809, TWI = 76.3

90 seconds at 9 am: Global stocks tumble, starting in Japan; China's factory output shrinks; US jobless claims fall, car sales rise; AU car makers in trouble; NZ$1 = US$0.814 TWI = 76.7

90 seconds at 9 am: Global stocks tumble, starting in Japan; China's factory output shrinks; US jobless claims fall, car sales rise; AU car makers in trouble; NZ$1 = US$0.814 TWI = 76.7

90 seconds at 9 am: Bernanke testifies; Fed divided when to wind back QE; IMF chides Britain; big AU bond offer; NZ$1 = US$0.806 TWI = 76.4

90 seconds at 9 am: Bernanke testifies; Fed divided when to wind back QE; IMF chides Britain; big AU bond offer; NZ$1 = US$0.806 TWI = 76.4

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

90 seconds at 9 am: EU tackles China mobile companies, solar panel makers, oil traders; gold and silver recover; NZ$1 = US$0.818 TWI = 77.0

90 seconds at 9 am: EU tackles China mobile companies, solar panel makers, oil traders; gold and silver recover; NZ$1 = US$0.818 TWI = 77.0

'Panicky' start to week as gold and silver open with big falls ahead of London and New York markets. WGC stats confirm ETF flight

'Panicky' start to week as gold and silver open with big falls ahead of London and New York markets. WGC stats confirm ETF flight

90 seconds at 9 am: 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: 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

The trend of rate reductions for savers now extends to on-call and savings accounts, more banks drop TD and PIE rates

The trend of rate reductions for savers now extends to on-call and savings accounts, more banks drop TD and PIE rates

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

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

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

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

Commercial property returns shine as bond yields fall and capital gains kick in; income returns stable

Commercial property returns shine as bond yields fall and capital gains kick in; income returns stable

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

90 seconds at 9 am: 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

Monday's Top 10 with NZ Mint: Shadow banking threat; delinking; WTO direction; Beijing LVRs; sinking CDSs; job gains; Dilbert, and more

Monday's Top 10 with NZ Mint: Shadow banking threat; delinking; WTO direction; Beijing LVRs; sinking CDSs; job gains; Dilbert, and more

Banks shift the fight for new mortgage business away from 'low rates' to up-front incentive offers

Banks shift the fight for new mortgage business away from 'low rates' to up-front incentive offers