by Warren Head | Mar 26, 2026 | Economy
26.3.26 The December 2025 quarter delivered a record high share of renewable electricity generation at 96.4%, up 2.1 percentage points on the December 2024 quarter. “Driving this was strong hydro output and increases in solar capacity over the past year,” recordced...
by Warren Head | Mar 4, 2026 | Economy, Global Share Markets, Market Commentary
Financial and commodity markets are reacting to the fast-escalating regional conflict in the Middle East. ASB Bank this morning noted severe interruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and regional air routes. “Rising oil prices have ignited...
by Warren Head | Mar 2, 2026 | Economy, Market Commentary
The Iranian capital Tehran 2.3.26 The financial market and international affairs commentators were today gripped by the situation in Iran – and the wider Middle East where aviation was disrupted and vessels anchored beyond the Persian Gulf. “The direct impact on New...
by Warren Head | Feb 18, 2026 | Economy, Money Market
With the economy at an early stage in its recovery, the Reserve Bank decided to hold the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 2.25% today. The Governor of the RB, Dr Anna Breman, delivering her first OCR announcement Monetary Policy Statement said, “.If the economy evolves...
by Warren Head | Feb 11, 2026 | Currency, Economy, Money Market
11/2/26 Softer than expected US retail sales supported the case for Fed rate cuts which contributed to a decline in treasury yields and a stronger yen, notes BNZ Markets this morning. US retail sales were unexpectedly flat in December which was well below the 0.4%...
by Warren Head | Jan 20, 2026 | Economy, Featured, Latest News
20.1.26 Fletcher Building made the stunning announcement today that it Is getting out of construction – after a few years of experiencing some extraordinary problems in its legacy contracts. It is a decision that would have been considered virtually unthinkable....
