US share markets have continued to pick up recently, sparking discussion among experts.

Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains the factors behind the change.

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Wellington City Council is being called on to review its rating system over fears increased rates are driving businesses out of the capital.

Newly released figures show Wellington’s average commercial rates bill is $47,881. That compares to $20,716 in Auckland, $18,059 in Christchurch, $24,768 in Hamilton, and $25,670 in Tauranga.

Director of The Wellington Company, Ian Cassels, says there's a lot of overspending going on - with 'eye-watering' levies impacting businesses.

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Auckland home values have fallen, down nine percent on CVs released in 2021.

New capital values are being released tomorrow for 630,000 properties, with inner-city suburbs taking a bigger hit.

Central Auckland areas - including Mount Eden and Maungakiekie - fell about 13 percent.

Auckland Council Group CFO, Ross Tucker, says a few reasons have driven the slump.

"We've seen apartments fall 12 percent, converted flats fall 12 percent as well - also, we're seeing some of the areas where there's a lot of development potential have bigger than average falls."

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Federated Farmers has launched a petition calling for KiwiSaver rules to be changed to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder.

The petition’s launch has been timed to coincide with Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek.

Federated Farmers' banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre says farming is very capital intensive and young farmers need a boost in the name of fairness.

"Kiwi farmers are really struggling to put that money aside and a lot of them are actually deciding not to put money into KiwiSaver and basically scrimp and save because they know they need all the money they can get to actually get their foot in the door."

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Positive news from the manufacturing sector.

Data from inventory management software company Unleashed shows that both revenue and profitability is up.

In the first quarter of the year, revenue across the sector was up 7.5%, and profitability was up 30% compared to the same time last year.

Food, beverage, and the building industry are the big winners.

Alan McDonald, EMA Head of Advocacy, Finance and Strategy, told Mike Hosking this latest survey just reinforces the trend we’re seeing about growing confidence in the sector.

He says all signs indicate things are looking much better down the track.

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The US debt burden has been thrust into the spotlight - and it's an ongoing point of concern.

Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains why this is happening.

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Labour has slammed the Government for not getting a better trade deal out of the current Trump administration.

New Zealand currently has to pay a 10 percent tariff on all imports on New Zealand products out of the US.

But the opposition has claimed the Government is failing Kiwis by 'being comfortable' with a 10 percent tariff.

Former trade negotiator Stephen Jacobi says the Government is watching and consulting with trading partners.

"It's doing all those right sort of things. You have to remember that we are being charged as an additional tariff at the lowest end of the scale - we don't have a lot to offer the United States."

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The Commerce Commission is proposing to give grocery suppliers a leg up in their dealings with the supermarket giants.

The commission has proposed updates to the Grocery Supply Code, including stopping retailers charging suppliers for stocking shelves and requiring retailers to keep records on how they’re complying with certain parts of the code.

Night 'n Day general manager Matthew Lane says this crackdown comes with encouraging implications for the sector.

"What's most encouraging for us is that the CommComm's cracking down on the fact that other retailers are being charged more for their wholesale than what the supermarkets are actually retailing the same products for."

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