Social media and high-speed technology continue to affect the economy, with recent cyber-attacks highlighting vulnerabilities in global markets.  The combination of mass communication tools like Twitter and high-frequency trading systems has illustrated a basic weakness within the financial industry, with government and industry regulators searching for a solution.A Twitter hoax in April caused a drop of $136 billion from the Standard & ...more »

Changing conditions in the property market continue to influence the rental sector, with strong supply cooling down the market in some areas. However, while more rental houses are available and demand is falling compared to a year ago, asking rents continue to rise across much of New Zealand.According to figures released by Trade Me Property, there has been a 5 percent increase in rental property listings over the last year, with a 2 percent ...more »

The number of houses sold by auction is on the rise in Australia and New Zealand, fuelled by low listings and high levels of demand in big cities.  Sydney and Auckland are leading the way for auction sales, as sellers take advantage of strong competitive conditions throughout the market.  While the rising popularity of auctions is causing some concern among some real estate experts, market conditions look likely to favour auctions throughout ...more »

The vaccination debate has hit the media spotlight recently, it's one that stirs up passion. in many parents. Both sides put forward arguments that are convincing, and there is much information, as well as misinformation out there on the topic.  Are vaccinations safe, or is there evidence behind claims that they can cause health problems?   There are many aspects to this debate, read on to take a brief look at some of the major issues as well ...more »

The recent rise and fall of Bitcoin has brought up some interesting questions about technology and the nature of money. For its fans, Bitcoin is a viable currency for the brave new world. For its critics, it's a farce at worse and a fantasy at best, doomed to failure like so many other well-intentioned online projects. One thing is for sure, however, the recent fluctuations in the value of Bitcoins have attracted the attention of the world, as ...more »