Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler lifted the official cash rate a quarter-point to 2.75 percent in the first move of a tightening cycle, and signalled potential for a steeper track for future hikes as he tries to prevent inflation accelerating. “While headline inflation has been moderate, inflationary pressures are increasing and are expected to continue doing so over the next …

The New Zealand dollar, which has advanced 3.4 percent so far this year, is unchanged ahead of the Reserve Bank meeting today where governor Graeme Wheeler is widely expected to increase interest rates by a quarter point. The kiwi was unchanged at 84.67 US cents at 8am in Wellington, from 5pm yesterday and 81.91 cents at the start of the …

With the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index near record highs, investors are trying to weigh the positive outlook for the US economy with concern about signs of economic trouble in China and the ongoing Ukrainian crisis. In afternoon trading in New York, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.21 percent, as did the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The Nasdaq …