New Zealand's share market is taking a turn for the better.

New data indicates the NZX 50 has gone up by almost 6 percent in the past month - and economists are feeling optimistic about this reporting season.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains this change in direction.

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The Government has dropped further hints it isn’t opposed to diluting its 100% ownership of Kiwibank to enable it to grow.

While Kiwibank is expanding, it needs a lot more capital to be the disrupter it was set up to be to challenge the big four Australian-owned banks.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny speculates about the Government's next steps.

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New data indicates the financial pressures are easing on renters.

Rental prices have decreased for the first time since 2022, according to Trade Me’s Rental Price Index for June 2024.

CoreLogic chief property economist Kelvin Davidson says this is a sign the rental market has shifted in favour of tenants.

"There's a bit less demand out there and a bit more supply - so we have seen rents slow. They may not necessarily fall over the longer term, but I'd say they've flattened out."

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A Waikato-based sheep milk company has managed to gain brand registration for its infant milk formula in China.

Spring Sheep will be able to directly import and distribute infant formula to China - and increase export volumes long-term.

The Country's Jamie Mackay explains the significance of this deal.

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One expert has voiced approval with the Commerce Commission's plan to regulate PayWave and online credit card fees.

The watchdog says capped fees could save Kiwis $250 million dollars, from the $1 billion a year they spend in-store and online.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says these changes are neceesary.

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Details surrounding the Warehouse takeover offer have been revealed.

Australian private equity firm Adamantem Capital Management has offered to buy the business for $1.50 to $1.70 a share, valuing it at a total of $590 million.

Greg Smith from Devon Funds Management has labelled this move 'opportunistic' as the retail sector struggles.

"They haven't even got a CEO - it does seem to be quite opportunistic, particularly if you've got a ray of light for the retail sector if we do get that rate cut from RBNZ."

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The Commerce Commission is looking into regulating fees for PayWave and online card payments.

The market watchdog says adding regulation could save Kiwis $250 million dollars, from the $1 billion a year they spend on fees in-store and online.

Chair John Small says they're exploring changes that could reduce surcharges to 0.7 percent.

"Part of what we're doing here is trying to simplify these rates so that the merchants know much more clearly what's costing them - and then that allows buyers to know that."

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Many Kiwis are concerned the costs of being a parent have reached an unreasonable level.

According to new research from Kiwibank, 70 percent of people believe the financial and child-care pressures on parents have gotten harder in the modern world.

Kiwibank's Chief People Officer, Charlotte Ward, says people feel there's a 'penalty' that comes with choosing parenthood.

"We know from phrases like 'the motherhood penalty' that this actually does disproportionately affect women. Also, 55 percent of people from the research agree there's a penalty in terms of career advancement opportunity."

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