Best of Business
Best of Business is the home of all things business at Newstalk ZB, from morning market updates right through to incisive interviews with New Zealand’s top business leaders and decision makers. Whether you’re a small business owner or interested in what’s going on in the Big End of Town, this podcast encompasses the sharpest voices and minds in the world of business.
Episodes
Charlie Munger, investment guru and sidekick in Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway project, passed this week.
Munger served as Buffett’s sounding board on investments and business decisions and led Berkshire as vice-chairman for decades.
Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds says Munger was an instrumental part of Berkshire's success alongside Buffett.
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There's renewed optimism from New Zealand's business leaders about the state of the economy.
In the latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, confidence increased by 8 points to +31 in the results for November.
NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains this boost in optimism.
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Genesis Energy is making moves to meet its promise of producing 95 percent renewable energy by 2035.
The company plans to use profits from Kupe gas field to support a $1.1 billion programme to build solar and wind generation and grid-scale battery storage.
Chief executive Malcolm Johns says it's likely Genesis will meet their target within the coming years.
"We're not starting from a cold start, we have a number of things under ...
Consumer NZ is accusing Z Energy of profiting from misleading sustainability messaging.
The organisation teamed up with the Environmental Law Initiative and Lawyers for Climate Action New Zealand Inc to seek a High Court declaration for Z's breaches of the Fair Trading Act.
Chief executive Jon Duffy says the evidence contradicts Z Energy's climate-focused public messaging.
"We don't think that stacks up, and consumers shouldn'...
The incoming Government has agreed to disestablish the Productivity Commission, as ACT requested.
Staff are disappointed, yet unsurprised, as many were concerned the agency had become too politicised.
NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says there were already tensions between chair Ganesh Nana and former staffers.
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Retirement village operator Ryman Healthcare has posted a lower-than-expected half-year profit.
The company had earned $186 million after tax for the six months to September, a 4 percent decrease from 2022.
Chief executive Richard Umbers says this loss is driven by a more subdued housing market.
"The housing market is under pressure. That impacts our ability to sell, which inevitably has a flow-through effect on the business."
...The Reserve Bank left the OCR at 5.5 percent during today's review, in line with predictions.
The Bank also issued a hawkish statement about future hikes, claiming further hikes would be needed if inflationary pressures got to be stronger than anticipated.
Infometrics chief economist Gareth Kiernan says there's a good chance the OCR will need to go up between now and 2025.
"Economic activity is running a percentage point higher ...
The Reserve Bank says there may be a need for more interest rates hikes.
It has held the Official Cash Rate at 5.5 percent, and their forecast track suggests no rate cuts are on the horizon until mid-2025.
Independent economist Tony Alexander says he doesn't think the Reserve Bank will actually do that- or really believes it will have to.
"I think today's statement was all about a signal to the market. To say- don't get too opti...
As part of the coalition agreement, the Government revealed some new changes for the Reserve Bank.
Its dual mandate will be ditched- and focus will return to keeping inflation between one and three percent.
HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says reduced priorities means the Reserve Bank will only have one clear goal to meet.
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A date has been set for disgraced businessman Eric Watson's bankruptcy case to be called.
The liquidators of Watson’s company, Cullen Investments, have chased him for roughly $57.4 million, plus interest.
Auckland's High Court confirmed that the bankruptcy proceeding will be called on February 1, 2024.
BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says Watson's been staving off problems for over a decade.
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The Government's plan to slash the public sector is having an adverse impact on Wellington's property market.
According to ANZ's latest property report, Wellington's housing market is lagging behind the rest of the country as people brace for job losses.
ANZ economist Andre Castaing says housing markets all over the nation are expected to go sideways within the next year.
"The housing market in Wellington- we would characterise ...
Some of America's most successful business figures are set to arrive in Auckland for the upcoming US Business Summit.
Experts from major companies like PepsiCo and Amazon will gather in this half of the world to discuss New Zealand's evolving direction.
NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan explains the topics that will be covered within these discussions.
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OpenAI recently reached an agreement for Sam Altman to return as CEO days after his ousting.
It caps frenzied discussions about the future of the start-up at the centre of the artificial intelligence boom.
As well as Altman's return, the ChatGPT maker has agreed in principle to partly reconstitute the board of directors that had dismissed him.
Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains what this means for the wider world of AI.
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Good news for Kiwi bakers out there- egg prices are on their way down.
Eggs have been in short supply - and expensive - since the start of the year when a ban on battery-caged hens came into effect, sparking shortages across the country.
The Country's Rowena Duncum says thing brings a positive conclusion to a turbulent year.
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Westpac is cutting some of its longer-term fixed special home loan rates- making it the first major bank to do so.
The bank's two- and three-year fixed home loan rates will drop 10 basis points to 6.99 percent and 6.75 percent, and the four-year and five-year rates will drop to 6.69 percent and 6.49 percent.
NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what this means for the wider market.
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Meal kit delivery service My Food Bag's latest profits have more than halved as customers seek to cut costs.
The company's half year profit shows a significant decline, and a planned dividend has been axed.
Devon Funds Head of Retail Greg Smith says customers have been forced to cut back amid increased interest rates and inflation.
"Their average value has gone down- meanwhile, obviously costs have gone up for them...
Back in 2008 two kiwis created Invivo with the intention of bringing New Zealand wine to the world.
Sarah Jessica Parker joined the team back in 2019, and their wine collaboration is now wildly successful, their Sauvignon Blanc the fastest growing Premium Sauv currently available in the United States.
A third wine for the collection is releasing soon, this time a Pinot Noir.
Parker...
There's early signs that mortgage rates could be on the downswing again.
New Zealand's wholesale interest rates have fallen sharply over the last month- and both the two-year and ten-year swap rates have dropped.
NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says banks still have yet to move their rates down, despite these early signs.
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Nvidia's latest quarterly results have surpassed expectations amid increased demand for AI.
Demand for Nvidia’s graphics processing units has been exceeding supply, and the company has tripled its year on year revenue.
Milford Asset Management's Felix Fok explains why the company is thriving amongst the AI wave.
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Elon Musk has confirmed that advertising revenue from X, formerly Twitter, will be donated to war-torn Gaza and the hospitals in Israel.
The move comes amid increased backlash against Musk, after he posted support for anti-Semitic content on the site.
US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Apple, Disney and IBM have already paused advertising on X.
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