About
A senior journalist and news editor with interest.co.nz, David Hargreaves has covered financial markets and economics both in New Zealand and Britain for longer than he cares to mention.
David Hargreaves
Latest articles
New BIS research paper looks at the 'unique set of challenges' posed by stablecoins and outlines the potential required policy response
7th Aug 25, 7:57am
New BIS research paper looks at the 'unique set of challenges' posed by stablecoins and outlines the potential required policy response
Morgan Stanley analysts say ANZ, CBA and NAB grew mortgages 'broadly in line with system' in the first six months of 2025, while Westpac lagged; CBA reporting results soon
7th Aug 25, 7:55am
Morgan Stanley analysts say ANZ, CBA and NAB grew mortgages 'broadly in line with system' in the first six months of 2025, while Westpac lagged; CBA reporting results soon
[updated]
Financial Markets Authority says Kiwibank overcharged thousands of customers a total of close to $1 million between 2011 and 2024
6th Aug 25, 9:30am
1
Financial Markets Authority says Kiwibank overcharged thousands of customers a total of close to $1 million between 2011 and 2024
A look at the detailed mortgage figures for the first six months of this year reveals that the investors are definitely back - even if that's not what the current market narrative might say
6th Aug 25, 8:39am
4
A look at the detailed mortgage figures for the first six months of this year reveals that the investors are definitely back - even if that's not what the current market narrative might say
Latest monthly RBNZ figures show that in June there was a marked shift in preference to one-year fixed mortgages, particularly for investors
4th Aug 25, 3:37pm
1
Latest monthly RBNZ figures show that in June there was a marked shift in preference to one-year fixed mortgages, particularly for investors
ANZ economists believe firms have 'hoarded' labour in anticipation of economic recovery and may now be forced to 'right size' through layoffs - amplifying the unemployment rate; OCR may be forced below 2.5%
4th Aug 25, 2:38pm
16
ANZ economists believe firms have 'hoarded' labour in anticipation of economic recovery and may now be forced to 'right size' through layoffs - amplifying the unemployment rate; OCR may be forced below 2.5%
'There is an element of being punished because NZ has great scenery and because Americans want to eat far more hamburgers than the Duttons on Yellowstone ranch can produce beef for'
4th Aug 25, 1:16pm
1
'There is an element of being punished because NZ has great scenery and because Americans want to eat far more hamburgers than the Duttons on Yellowstone ranch can produce beef for'
Labour market figures to be released in the coming week may show the unemployment rate rising to 5.3% from 5.1%, reflecting a mid-year 'stall' in the hoped-for economic recovery
3rd Aug 25, 6:01am
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Labour market figures to be released in the coming week may show the unemployment rate rising to 5.3% from 5.1%, reflecting a mid-year 'stall' in the hoped-for economic recovery
Latest Reserve Bank figures show that even as mortgage rates come down, the amount of non-performing housing loans is still going up, now getting close to $2.5 billion worth
31st Jul 25, 3:47pm
11
Latest Reserve Bank figures show that even as mortgage rates come down, the amount of non-performing housing loans is still going up, now getting close to $2.5 billion worth
Latest ANZ Business Outlook Survey shows a renewed slump in expected activity for both the construction and retail sectors: 'It appears residential builders are giving up on a recovery any time soon'
30th Jul 25, 1:26pm
8
Latest ANZ Business Outlook Survey shows a renewed slump in expected activity for both the construction and retail sectors: 'It appears residential builders are giving up on a recovery any time soon'
[updated]
Monthly filled jobs data shows a slight rise in June, but the May figures showed a rise initially as well - and that's now been revised down to a fall; primary sector continues to be a notable bright spot for employment
28th Jul 25, 11:32am
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Monthly filled jobs data shows a slight rise in June, but the May figures showed a rise initially as well - and that's now been revised down to a fall; primary sector continues to be a notable bright spot for employment
David Hargreaves has a crunch of the mortgage figures for the first six months of 2025 and says these show a return very much to 'normal' patterns after the wild pandemic period and subsequent slump
25th Jul 25, 9:12am
7
David Hargreaves has a crunch of the mortgage figures for the first six months of 2025 and says these show a return very much to 'normal' patterns after the wild pandemic period and subsequent slump
Macquarie analysts say economic modelling implies that the particularly strong bank share market performance in 2024 was not supported by macro fundamentals, with a record deviation between the modelled and actual performance
24th Jul 25, 10:09am
Macquarie analysts say economic modelling implies that the particularly strong bank share market performance in 2024 was not supported by macro fundamentals, with a record deviation between the modelled and actual performance
Latest Reserve Bank figures show that some 30% of 'new' mortgage commitments in the past month were due to customers changing loan providers
23rd Jul 25, 3:50pm
3
Latest Reserve Bank figures show that some 30% of 'new' mortgage commitments in the past month were due to customers changing loan providers
Continued strong annual growth in export of dairy products, fruit and forest products has seen NZ record five consecutive monthly goods trade surpluses for the first time since the pandemic affected 2020
22nd Jul 25, 2:46pm
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Continued strong annual growth in export of dairy products, fruit and forest products has seen NZ record five consecutive monthly goods trade surpluses for the first time since the pandemic affected 2020
Fletcher Building is now officially looking to sell its construction division, responsible for about 20% of the company's revenues and a large proportion of its headaches
22nd Jul 25, 10:37am
7
Fletcher Building is now officially looking to sell its construction division, responsible for about 20% of the company's revenues and a large proportion of its headaches
The June quarter Consumers Price Index inflation figures coming out on Monday shouldn't deter the Reserve Bank from making another OCR cut in August - unless there's a nasty surprise
20th Jul 25, 7:14am
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The June quarter Consumers Price Index inflation figures coming out on Monday shouldn't deter the Reserve Bank from making another OCR cut in August - unless there's a nasty surprise
UBS analysts anticipate that the Australian banks will likely respond over time to the card surcharges removal by raising cardholder fees, reducing rewards on credit cards, and potentially increasing interest rates
17th Jul 25, 5:20pm
UBS analysts anticipate that the Australian banks will likely respond over time to the card surcharges removal by raising cardholder fees, reducing rewards on credit cards, and potentially increasing interest rates
Investment researcher Morningstar says the Aussie banks are overpriced - but ANZ represents the best value despite risks hanging over it
17th Jul 25, 5:13pm
Investment researcher Morningstar says the Aussie banks are overpriced - but ANZ represents the best value despite risks hanging over it
Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show that food prices rose 1.2% in June and the annual increase was the highest since December 2023; rent prices, however, had their lowest annual increase since 2011; CPI to be announced on Monday
17th Jul 25, 11:16am
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Statistics NZ's Selected Price Indexes show that food prices rose 1.2% in June and the annual increase was the highest since December 2023; rent prices, however, had their lowest annual increase since 2011; CPI to be announced on Monday
[updated]
Electronic cards data for June shows that retail spending rose for the first time in four months in June, boosted by a lift in durables and apparel spending, but retailers are reporting that 60% of them did not meet sales targets in the June quarter
14th Jul 25, 11:18am
Electronic cards data for June shows that retail spending rose for the first time in four months in June, boosted by a lift in durables and apparel spending, but retailers are reporting that 60% of them did not meet sales targets in the June quarter
[updated]
New Zealand's services sector contracts for fifth consecutive month - has seen only one month of 'minimal' expansion in the last 16; BNZ economists see 0.2% fall in GDP for June quarter
14th Jul 25, 10:53am
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New Zealand's services sector contracts for fifth consecutive month - has seen only one month of 'minimal' expansion in the last 16; BNZ economists see 0.2% fall in GDP for June quarter
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has cleared French company Lactalis to buy Fonterra's up-for-sale consumer business
10th Jul 25, 2:47pm
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has cleared French company Lactalis to buy Fonterra's up-for-sale consumer business
New proposed anti-money laundering measures include banning crypto ATM machines and limits on overseas cash transfers
9th Jul 25, 3:24pm
5
New proposed anti-money laundering measures include banning crypto ATM machines and limits on overseas cash transfers
[updated]
Latest monthly RBNZ figures show that in May, a third of the new mortgages taken out were on floating terms; homeowners are still waiting for more OCR cuts
9th Jul 25, 9:37am
5
Latest monthly RBNZ figures show that in May, a third of the new mortgages taken out were on floating terms; homeowners are still waiting for more OCR cuts