The SME Stream

There are two sets of disruption impacting investments and the world economy. Andrew Bascand - Co CEO, Harbour Asset Management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global oil prices have shot up again, with Donald Trump gunning for authority over the Strait of Hormuz. The President's announced a naval blockade on Iranian ports, after peace talks collapsed in Pakistan yesterday.  Despite the ceasefire, he's looking at resuming strikes.   Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Labour's leader is demanding clarity on spending commitments in the India free trade deal - and isn't sure whether the party will back it.  The deal lives or dies on Labour's decision, with Coalition party NZ First refusing support.  Chris Hipkins says he's concerned about a clause he claims requires Kiwi businesses to invest $30 billion in India over 15 years.  He says he wants to...

OCR hikes are now expected to come much faster.  Economists have been adjusting their forecasts after the Reserve Bank last week said it would take "decisive and timely" action if inflation continued to rise.  ANZ's gone from forecasting one increase in December to three consecutive increases in July, September, and October.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosk...

The country's largest bank is now forecasting three Official Cash Rate hikes before the election. ANZ is predicting three consecutive increases in July, September, and October - bringing the OCR from 2.25 percent to 3 percent. A week ago, most economists were expecting the central bank to keep the OCR on hold until December. But the Reserve Bank's hawkish tone is prompting most to change their for...

"Get your bingo cards ready to cross off “worried”, “watchful”, and “ready to act”, as we walk the tightrope between higher prices and faltering growth" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tide has well and truly turned.  We've had analysts forecasting a plateau for much of this year, with rates starting to turn upwards near the end of the year. One thing is for sure - we're not too likely to see the OCR go any lower than where it already stands.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hot topic on everyone's minds right now is the price of petrol and diesel.  It seems to be impacting the price of just about everything else, and we're staring down the barrel of a major risk of high inflation.  The OCR remains steady for now, but it's only a matter of time before interest rates are on the up once again.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Recent KiwiSaver changes were meant to strengthen the scheme, but one expert says they risk doing the opposite. Mary Holm joins Nadine Higgins to break down why cuts to government contributions hit low income earners hardest, and how current settings could deepen inequality over time. So who is KiwiSaver working for? Why are some workers are missing out on employer support altogether? And what are...

If the people closest to you think you're crazy for wanting to start a business, this episode is for you. I break down the real psychology behind why friends and family become your biggest critics when you start chasing something bigger, how to protect your mindset when the people you love doubt you the most, and the exact strategies I used to build a multi-million dollar business despite the nega...

The Prime Minister says the Government's still looking into how to get more fuel into the country. It's put 20-million dollars towards an extra diesel storage tank at Marsden Point, south of Whangārei. Chris Luxon says it will be built and completed in seven weeks. He says told Mike Hosking they're considering offers for extra diesel, to fill the new tank. Luxon says there are currently high level...

Building resilience in the country's supply chain is key for New Zealand to weather international instability - Kelvin Wickham, Ballance Agri-Nutrients See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Agriculture and Trade updates us on the Indian FTA, the prospect of more Trump tariffs on our lamb, and whether he would look forward to serving under Winston as a Prime Minister? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next level of AI is about to be released, and there are major concerns   The models just keep getting better and better and now Anthropic, the maker of Claude, says its software engineering capability is now so advanced that it's finding thousands of vulnerabilities in software that no one knew existed.   Anthropic says "the fallout for economies, public safety, and national security...

Proposed changes to the Holiday Act will change how leave is recorded and accrued See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Major exporters are urging political leaders to urgently back a Free Trade Agreement with India, warning against “playing games” with access to one of the world’s largest and fastest‑growing markets. In an open letter released today, leading figures from New Zealand Inc. highlight the opportunity presented by India’s 1.4‑billion‑strong consumer base, which is expected to be...

2Degrees business wrap See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and Act leader David Seymour debate how we are handling the economic shocks of war in the Middle East. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Already seeing an unwinding of the 'hot' trades - oil, energy, defence - and a rebound in airlines and travel related stocks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some large employers are developing their own car pooling systems, mapping where employees live, to see if sharing rides would reduce parking pressure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business with Forsyth Barr: US market ceasefire rally, oil plunges 12%, solar famer Lodestone Energy may offer household power. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers says farmers are experiencing fuel shortages, with some two to three weeks behind their normal fuel drops. The US and Iran have reached a two-week ceasefire, and negotiations are planned in Pakistan this week, on a longer term settlement. Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean says there's no signs of this going away amid the ongoing uncertainty. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/...

As business owners, you know how hard it is keeping up with your business, let alone the news. Join Wilhelmina O'Keeffe each week as she gives you a rundown of the biggest stories that could impact your business, so you can make informed decisions with expert advice.   This week, The OCR holds steady and a ceasefire is called in the Middle East. Does that mean the economy is about to tur...

Forget soy, pea, or lab-grown meat – the next frontier in sustainable food might just be hiding in plain sight. Specifically, in the leaves of everyday plants growing across New Zealand’s farmland. In the latest episode of The Business of Tech podcast, I talk to Ross Milne, the CEO of Rolleston-based startup Leaft Foods, which has pioneered a breakthrough technique to extract and proce...

The Reserve Bank Governor says the conflict in Iran has materially altered New Zealand's outlook, even if yesterday's ceasefire deal leads to a de-escalation.  The central bank's kept the Official Cash Rate on hold at 2.25%.  It's forecasting inflation will hit 4.2% this quarter and says it's prepared to hike the cash rate if inflation becomes embedded.  Governor Anna Breman told Mi...