FTA and Uber Drivers
OPINION: Expect the Indian free trade deal to feature strongly in the election campaign.
ASB is rolling out more community bankers across New Zealand, providing targeted coaching and seminars to help customers with their personal finance needs.
Successive drops in global dairy prices mean the next season's opening milk price forecast is being trimmed back.
ASB says that, amidst the possibility of an incursion into Ukraine by Russia, it is unlikely the dairy industry will see a repeat of 2014 when conflict between the two countries led to a crash in dairy prices.
Global dairy prices have started the New Year in red hot form and ASB economist Nat Keall says a record milk price is now "a practical certainty".
ASB has joined a large chorus of banks by picking a record dairy season and strong meat prices for the year ahead.
A new record milk price for this season has been forecast as dairy products fetch higher on the back of strong demand and softening supply.
Many agricultural loans will now be guided by sustainability considerations including climate change mitigation and adaptation, water use, waste minimisation, labour rights and animal welfare.
"Content without being confident" is how ASB rural general manager Ben Speedy described the mood among dairy farmers at this month's National Fieldays.
OPINION: Expect the Indian free trade deal to feature strongly in the election campaign.
OPINION: One of the world's largest ice cream makers, Nestlé, is going cold on the viability of making the dessert.