The SME Stream

An economist says it won't be long until 91 petrol is consistently back down at $2.80. The US and Iran peace agreement to cease hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz is sending positive signals for the global oil industry.  Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold says prices will stay low, once ships are moving normally.  "We know that there's pretty low inventories out there around...

Business media has been awash with articles trying to puzzle out a fair valuation for something that the market now prices at 2.1 trillion US dollars. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year, a Christchurch businessman was found borrowing millions of dollars against his family trusts for his clothing company - racking up a $3-million dollar spend. His sister prompted legal action, and two homes had to be sold as collateral. But that brings up a question - what can we leave behind for our children and family that won't just be squandered or swindled? Trusts and inheri...

SpaceX has gone public in the biggest IPO in history, with OpenAI and Anthropic expected to follow. Together, the three companies could be worth more than US$3 trillion. So are they the investment opportunity of a lifetime, or the next great tech bubble? Fisher Funds portfolio manager Sam Dickie joins Nadine Higgins to break down the hype, the risks and what investors need to know. See omnystudio....

The Prime Minister says if the Government introduces a Bed Tax, it wants to ensure it does it the right way. An Auckland regional deal, signed by the council and the Government, includes a promise to look into a tax next year. Mayor Wayne Brown has been campaigning for the bed night levy on visitors - arguing it would help fund destination marketing and events. Christopher Luxon says there are a l...

Labour's pushing back against claims its election promises come with an 18-billion dollar hole. National says the party isn't detailing how it would fund major commitments, including restoring pay equity, and creating a Future Fund that could cost $13bn. Labour's finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds told Mike Hosking that every party must front-up with the numbers, and Labour's confident it can de...

There may simply be no avoiding a spike in inflation. Latest data from Infometrics and Foodstuffs shows grocery supplier cost inflation is rising again - reaching 2.2% in the year to May. Many economists now expect CPI inflation to surpass four-percent in the year to June. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking that a US-Iran peace deal probably won't change much in the short...

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,  What’s behind the government’s secret budget spend, Kiwis are spending more but buying the same,...

The Government’s plan to cut 8,700 public sector jobs and save $2.4 billion has been framed largely as a brutal cost‑cutting exercise.  In this week’s episode of The Business of Tech podcast, Hamilton‑based technologist Brandon Hutcheson argues it could instead be the catalyst for a once‑in‑a‑generation redesign of how government works – if we get the AI strategy right. He a...

Forsyth Barr Investment Adviser Mark Richardson weighs in as anticipation grows for the biggest IPO in history.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Better Taxes for a Better Future spokesperson Kate Stone talks about Facebook's ability to send NZ income to low-tax Ireland.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BusinessDesk's Riley Kennedy talks to Herald NOW Business from the first day of the sold out Fieldays in Mystery Creek. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts are warning investors to brace for a 'choppy' market in the tech sector. Some of the US's leading chip companies have been getting some extra attention on them, as the market looks set to change.  Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Court has ordered ASB Bank to pay $6.731 million for breaching anti-money laundering laws. The penalty is the largest ever imposed by a New Zealand court under the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act 2009. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explained the case further - and whether it sets a precedent. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

Tough economic conditions over the past six years have taken a toll on the survival rate of small and medium-sized businesses, but franchises appear to have fared better. International data supplied by the Franchise Association of New Zealand (FANZ) indicates about 75 to 85 percent of franchises were still operating after five years, compared with about half of independent small businesses. Franch...

Newstalk ZB's Claire Sherwood joins Herald NOW with the latest headlines from the South Island.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For bars in particular, low spend shows a real reluctance to get the wallet out as many of us try to spend less. 2degrees Business wrap - Garth Bray.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it actually take to walk away from a stable career and back yourself completely? In this episode I sit down with Holly Egerton, founder of Succession and one of my first ever mentorship clients, who left eight years in law to build a business entirely on her own terms. This one is for anyone sitting in a job they like but do not love, wondering if there is something more out there for th...

House prices are still falling in real terms, construction is slowing and businesses are losing faith in a quick recovery. Liam Dann and Tamsyn Parker discuss what could be New Zealand's biggest property reset in decades,  They also explain why Auckland's economy is feeling the pain and consider whether upcoming GDP figures will show the recovery has stalled once again (probably). The Economy...

2degrees Shaping Business Report surveyed more than 500 NZ businesses providing a snapshot of how they're navigating increasing economic uncertainty. Video|Herald NOW Business    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is promising more detail is coming regarding a billion dollar pre-Budget allocation. The funding's been labelled 'secret spending' by Labour. Nicola Willis says this reflects the Government's provision for a potential capital to operating forecast change in transport spend - that can be subject to future decisions. "That is literally what it is, and we will be taking policy de...

Manufacturing and rural doing okay, but slowing construction keeps a headwind on them. Mohandeep Singh - Craigs Investment Partners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy and other fixed costs biggest problem for business, Apple boosts Siri AI, donation rebate cap hammered by charities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows Australian business confidence is on the up - but things are still gloomy across the Tasman. The survey from National Australia Bank showed its index ​of business conditions held at +3 in ​May, ending four months of losses. Confidence ⁠improved modestly to -14, from -23 in April. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Christchurch's new stadium is helping drive national retail spending.  Paymark data shows spending through its Core Retail network rose 1.2% last month compared to a year ago.  Canterbury recorded the strongest regional growth, with spending up 2.8%.  Retail New Zealand's Carolyn Young told Francesca Rudkin that events drive activity.   She says the Six60 concert significantly...