An Auckland businessman who admitted running a business while bankrupt also has a senior role in a foreign exchange trading scheme the FMA has warned the public about.

China is fast becoming our dominant trading partner, but Kiwi business leaders based there say many New Zealand exporters are still taking a naive approach.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is likely to keep the cash rate on hold this week as it awaits the outcome of the federal election and allows the August rate cut to work.

The boss of an Australian non-bank mortgage lender says the pending cap on low deposit bank lending could be a catalyst for opening up the market to non-bank lenders.

David Ross had the outward appearance of a successful businessman - he lived in a $2.2 million home, owned expensive paintings, drove a Mercedes, and told clients he holidayed around the world.

Wellington financial adviser David Ross pleads guilty to charges relating to running a Ponzi scheme.

Prospective home buyers have been rushing to get pre-approval for loans with less than a 20 per cent deposit before new regulations are brought in.

Finance companies could make a comeback in the wake of the Reserve Bank's clampdown on low deposit lending by banks.

Experts say tighter mortgage lending rules will only a partially ease house prices, writes Jamie Gray.

David Ross, the Ponzi-accused former manager of Ross Asset Management appeared in court this morning, but all aspects of the hearing were suppressed.

New loan restrictions mean the "poor middle-class" hoping to buy their first home will be left out in the cold as banks cherry pick their ideal customers.