Westpac is cutting its advertised special two-year fixed home loan rate to 5.29% while simultaneously raising most other mortgage and term deposit rates, driven by a sharp rise in wholesale funding costs. According to Westpac NZ spokesperson Sarah Hearn, recent global events have pushed up the wholesale interest rates that commercial banks rely on to … Read more
Travelers face a shifting landscape of digital deception as scammers increasingly deploy artificial intelligence to craft convincing fake websites and weaponize stolen data, according to Florent Silve, an executive at Engine. This technological shift has replaced traditional pickpocketing concerns with sophisticated online fraud that targets unsuspecting vacationers before they even leave home. Federal data highlights … Read more
According to the Banking Ombudsman, a homeowner who fell into arrears after losing his job over a Covid-19 vaccine requirement has been awarded $500 in compensation following communication failures by his bank. The dispute highlights a broader surge in financial hardship and lending complaints across the banking sector as borrowers struggle with changing personal economic … Read more
Global diesel shortages and climbing fuel costs are driving up New Zealand pump prices as converging geopolitical conflicts restrict international supplies, according to transport policy experts. Motorists nationwide are facing immediate financial strain at the service station, with 91 octane petrol and diesel both recording sharp increases over a four-week period. Three Global Conflicts Constraining … Read more
Lotto’s $10 Million Must-Be-Won Draw Clears 10-Ball Format Ahead of Overhaul Lotto’s $10 million must-be-won draw went ahead on Saturday night in the final outing for the game’s current 10-ball format before a major shake-up takes hold this week, according to Lotto NZ. The winning numbers drawn were 4, 38, 26, 40, 3, and 29. … Read more
Verisk Analytics shares have tumbled over the past year, creating a stark disconnect between market anxiety over artificial intelligence and the robust underlying fundamentals of the Jersey City-based insurance data provider, according to equity analysis from Douglas C. Lane & Associates contributor Sethi. The provider of data analytics and software to property and casualty insurers … Read more
Federal officials will distribute $500 Obamacare refunds to nearly 1 million middle-income enrollees across 30 states starting in October, according to a White House fact sheet published Thursday. The $500 million disbursement targets households that do not receive federal financial assistance for insurance premiums, arriving just weeks before the midterm elections. Eligible States and Household … Read more
Finance writer Frances Cook warned social media users to watch for sophisticated deep-fake video ads circulating on Facebook and Instagram, according to public warnings issued by the commentator regarding unauthorized impersonations. The fraudulent clips feature a stilted computer-generated likeness of Cook with a British accent, falsely promoting stock-picking WhatsApp groups under a forged ANZ bank … Read more
More than half of New Zealanders believe higher borrowing costs are inevitable, with a net 57% telling ASB’s latest housing confidence survey they expect interest rates to climb over the coming year. According to ASB’s September report, the net 57% result covering the three months to July marks a sharp increase from a net 48% … Read more
According to employment data released by Seek, multiple trade and technical roles offering six-figure salaries rank among the highest-paying jobs in Australia that do not require a university degree. The figures show that workers considering vocational pathways can enter high-earning fields without taking on formal university study. Highest-Paying Roles Without a Degree Data compiled by … Read more