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The NZX 50 index climbed 0.9% to 13271 points on Thursday, led by an 11% surge in Gentrack and a 3% gain for Infratil. While technology and infrastructure stocks thrived on AI optimism, consumer-facing companies like SkyCity and Tourism Holdings saw declines.
The May 2026 National Top 10 Best Buys report identifies ten Australian regions, including Greater Hobart and Belmont, as prime locations for long-term capital growth based on infrastructure and demand.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered Budget 2026, committing $7 billion in capital funding for key transport, health, and housing projects. The package balances infrastructure catch-up with fiscal prudence amid trimmed growth forecasts.
Ventia Services Group has renewed a major maintenance contract with Yarra Valley Water worth A$405 million over nine years, consolidating four existing agreements into one.
CDC Data Centres has secured a landmark 555-megawatt contract in Australia, the largest in the nation's history. The 30-year agreement with a high-end US customer is expected to drive annualised EBITDAF to A$2 billion.
New Zealand's Budget 2026 prioritises fiscal discipline and targeted relief, aiming for an earlier return to surplus. However, this cautious approach risks stalling broader economic growth at a time when businesses and workers need a real engine for recovery.
The New Zealand Government has unveiled a $35 million funding injection over four years for road ambulance services as part of Budget 2026, targeting infrastructure, technology, and frontline support.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a reduced $2.1 billion operating allowance for Budget 2026, down $300 million from previous estimates. The government will instead prioritise a $5.7 billion capital package to bolster infrastructure and essential services.
New Zealand's Budget 2026 will allocate $70.7 million over four years to the New Zealand Customs Service to boost domestic border security. This funding forms part of a larger $81.5 million package aimed at combatting organised crime and international drug smuggling.
Napier Port Holdings Limited has approved an on-market share buyback of approximately 312,000 shares to support employee ownership plans. The move follows strong half-year results, with revenue rising to $84.9 million.
Regional Australian property values have grown by 3.3% in the last three months, more than triple the growth rate of capital cities, as Western Australia and Queensland lead a national surge.
The 2026-27 Federal Budget introduces major changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, aiming to help 75,000 more Australians own homes while generating $3.6 billion in revenue.
BHP Group Limited (BHP.AX) has reached an all-time high of 59.78 AUD, driven by record copper prices and a 22% increase in half-year profit. While technical indicators like the RSI (14) at 70.77 suggest overbought conditions, the company's strategic pivot to future-facing commodities continues to attract investor interest.
Beach Energy Ltd (BPT.AX) faces a complex trading environment as surging global oil prices provide a catalyst against a backdrop of revised production guidance and bearish technical indicators, including an RSI of 44.03.
The S&P/NZX 50's recent extreme volatility, driven by Middle East tensions and global AI pricing wars, proves that New Zealand's equity market is increasingly a proxy for global forces. Local investors must wake up to the reality that domestic fundamentals are being overshadowed by international events.
Auckland Council's Policy, Planning and Development Committee is set to vote on June 9, 2026, on proposals to scale back its housing intensification plans under Plan Change 120. The decisions could impact future house prices by up to 8% and result in a $3.2 billion variance in economic benefits.
Australia's economic growth slowed sharply to 0.3% in the first quarter of 2026, missing market expectations. Extreme weather disruptions and weak consumer spending dragged on activity, posing a policy dilemma for the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Australia has recorded its first trade deficit in goods and services since December 2017, driven by a surge in data centre equipment imports and high fuel costs. The March quarter current account deficit widened to A$27.1 billion, setting up a drag on upcoming GDP growth figures.
The Australian share market is set for a positive open today following strong overnight gains in Europe. Investors are highly focused on Goodman Group's upcoming third-quarter operational update and a key broker upgrade for retail giant Wesfarmers.
The New Zealand Exchange's benchmark NZX50 index gained 0.4% on Monday, driven by positive performances from Auckland Airport, Air New Zealand, and Contact Energy. The lift comes amid broader economic challenges, including elevated inflation and high fuel costs.
The Australian Government has announced major structural tax reforms to negative gearing and Capital Gains Tax in the Federal Budget. While aimed at supporting first-home buyers, industry experts warn the changes could severely impact the tight rental market.
New Zealand's population grew by 0.8% in the year to March 2026, reaching 5,361,300. The increase was driven by a net migration gain of 24,300 and a significant slowdown in the departure of New Zealand citizens.
The 2026-27 Australian Federal Budget introduces major reforms to negative gearing and capital gains tax while providing a new $250 tax offset for workers. Treasurer Jim Chalmers aims to address housing affordability and intergenerational equity through a $31.5 billion deficit plan.
The OECD has identified structurally high electricity prices as a major barrier to New Zealand's economic growth, calling for urgent reforms to the energy market and firming capacity.
Megaport Ltd (MP1.AX) has demonstrated significant momentum following a major US$25.1 million contract win for its Latitude.sh subsidiary. Technical indicators suggest a potential trend reversal as the share price moves above key short-term moving averages despite remaining below long-term levels.
The NZX50 index rose 1.1% on Friday to close at 13,039.2, ending a two-week losing streak. While Ryman Healthcare and Fletcher Building led the rally, record-low consumer confidence and a stagnant housing market continue to signal underlying economic fragility.
While global volatility drags down the main NZX50 index, New Zealand's regional economies are staging a quiet recovery. Driven by strong primary sector returns and resilient local SMEs, the provinces are proving to be the real engine of the country's economic survival in 2026.
The Australian Government is rolling out its $14.8 billion Strengthening Australia's Fuel Resilience Package to bolster long-term fuel security. However, consumers face immediate retail price rises as the temporary $2.5 billion fuel excise cut expires on June 30, 2026.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis expects banks to absorb the new NZ$209 million prudential levy, but New Zealand's concentrated financial market suggests otherwise. This editorial explores why everyday consumers, rather than highly profitable institutions, are likely to end up paying the bill.
Sanford Limited (SAN.NZ) shares resumed trading following a $66 million block trade by Ngāi Tahu Investments. The transition of the 9.6% stake clears a major capital overhang amid solid financial performance and an updated consensus buy rating.
New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis has defended a new $209 million prudential levy introduced in Budget 2026. Willis expressed confidence that major banks will absorb the regulatory costs rather than pass them on to consumers.
Genesis Minerals Limited faces near-term market consolidation as its share price adjusts to macroeconomic pressures. However, key growth catalysts including the Magnetic Resources transaction and the massive Tower Hill EPC contract point to strong long-term fundamentals.
New Zealand's Budget Economic and Fiscal Update 2026 projects an operating surplus by the 2028/29 fiscal year, one year earlier than previously forecast. The improved outlook is driven by increased tax revenue and spending restraint.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has issued an alert warning consumers about sophisticated, AI-driven crypto-asset investment scams. Operating on popular messaging apps like WhatsApp, these schemes use deepfakes and fake trading data to deceive younger investors.
The Federal Court of Australia has ordered Westpac Banking Corporation to pay a $26 million civil penalty. The fine follows systemic failures to respond to over 200 online financial hardship requests between 2017 and 2023.
New Zealand has announced a pre-Budget 2026 investment of NZ$1.58 billion to boost maritime security. The package funds crucial naval fleet maintenance, long-range drone procurement, and a new technology accelerator program.
ASX-listed gold miner Ora Banda Mining Ltd has recorded a remarkable 915.4% return for investors over the past three years. The surge is backed by record half-year revenues of $336.3 million and a strong global gold price environment.
Australian mining leaders Mineral Resources Ltd and BHP Group Ltd are showing strong share market performance, supported by resilient commodity prices and strategic diversification. While Mineral Resources has posted significant gains since early 2025, BHP is trading near its all-time high amid robust copper and iron ore markets.
The NZX50 index closed up 0.3% on Friday, May 22, 2026, driven by a 9% surge in Oceania Healthcare shares. Concurrently, Fletcher Building announced its Construction Division sale to VINCI Construction is unconditional at an increased value of approximately $334 million.
Contact Energy Limited exhibits strong market performance, trading near its 52-week high at NZ$9.98. With a successful institutional block trade and solid technical indicators including a bullish MACD, the New Zealand utility provider's outlook remains highly favorable.
AustralianSuper has appointed Sarah Carney as its first Head of AI and Automation as the fund targets a 5% productivity boost and launches new digital advice tools for its 3.6 million members.
Air New Zealand is set to launch three new non-stop international routes from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo, and Perth starting in late 2026, supported by the return of its Boeing 787 fleet.
New Zealand Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced a major public service overhaul targeting 8,700 job cuts and $2.4 billion in savings to fund priority areas like health and education.
A proposal to buy back the Bank of New Zealand from National Australia Bank has reignited calls for structural reform in a sector where four banks control up to 85% of the market.
Gentrack Group Limited has acquired New Zealand SaaS provider Factor for NZ$24 million to integrate machine learning-driven energy pricing into its global platform. The deal, funded by cash reserves, is expected to be EPS accretive by FY28.
The Financial Markets Authority has issued a high-risk warning for Swift Wave Global, a Ponzi-style scam linked to the collapsed BG Wealth Sharing scheme. Regulators report over $150 million in global losses associated with this fraudulent network.
An Auckland man has recovered $19,300 after falling victim to a sophisticated SIM swapping scam that targeted his ANZ bank account. The incident has prompted One NZ to implement a new 15-minute delay on SIM transfers.
Mercury NZ Limited has announced a phased $1 billion investment plan to expand its geothermal energy platform near Taupō, aiming to power 125,000 additional homes by 2030.
Regulators have issued urgent warnings to the A$4.2 trillion superannuation sector to bolster cyber resilience following historical breaches and new AI-powered threats. The move follows the 2025 credential stuffing attacks where A$500,000 was stolen from member accounts.
Commonwealth Bank reported a $2.7 billion cash profit for the March quarter 2026, a 1% decline from its first-half average as technology investments and loan provisions rose.