The strife between Russia and the Ukraine has resulted in a tough week for European stock markets but the NZ bourse has taken no notice of the situation and hit new highs, writes Tamsyn Parker.

Many large players pitched for the Kiwi waste business, but Beijing Capital rolled in with a $950 million cheque, and the deal was done, writes Dita De Boni.

If the issue of inequality and poverty is to loom large in this election year there are a couple of cherished beliefs on both sides of politics that need to surrender to evidence, writes Brian Fallow.

There is a huge amount riding on just how the West deals with Putin's incursion, with the Ukraine merely a pawn in the Russian president's geopolitical chess game, writes Fran O'Sullivan.

The short answer is yes, KiwiSaver is taxed. But taxation isn't the only difference between saving through KiwiSaver and the cash-deposit options.

The economy is not suddenly perfect just because the economic cycle has turned for the better, writes Liam Dann. There is still serious work to be done,

The Government has given itself a tight timetable for the Genesis Energy float...

Even as John Key was reiterating his pig-headed refusal to address the long-term affordability of the state pension, the NZ Superannuation Fund reported on its performance, writes Brian Fallow.

Liam Dann asks: "Is the Government decision to sell as little as 30 per cent of Genesis a back down or just pragmatism? That probably depends exactly where you sit on the political divide."

While the sharemarket has been overloaded with a raft of company financial reports this week, the fixed interest market has had a flurry of its own announcements.

Brian Fallow asks :Does the electricity market entrench the ripping off of consumers? Would replacing it with a single buyer model address the issue of energy hardship among some households?"

Travelling the world as a New Zealand businessperson can be a heartening exercise, says Mark Lowndes.

Anyone who has followed progress on this site (or lack of it) probably has good cause for remaining sceptical, at least until the diggers turn up, writes Liam Dann.

Tempted to buy Nurofen? Don't be. Ibuprofen, the exact same active ingredient, costs less than half. It just doesn't have the brand recognition.

Migration is a big deal in the New Zealand economy, writes Brian Fallow. In such a small, open and mobile country changes in the net flow of permanent and long-term migrants are a major influence on the economic cycle.

The global financial crisis is far from over and the underlying problems that gave rise to it remain unsolved, says Lord King.

At the end of a long, hot silly season, the corporate reporting season - which kicks off this week - comes as welcome relief for followers of business news.

The more energy efficient your business, the lower your energy spend. Reduced cost, improved bottom line. It's so obvious, writes Greg Visser.

I am 56 years old and still work full time, but I have not yet joined KiwiSaver.

The Reserve Bank is announcing its OCR decision this morning. Brian Fallow looks at whether interest rates need to rise as high as they did in the last cycle.

The plain fact is that in industry after industry, Australians have a longer stride, writes Brian Fallow. As long as that remains true, they will outpace us and the gap in incomes and living standards will widen.

Asked about the KiwiSaver myths he has heard most often, Mercer's NZ managing director Martin Lewington comes up with five off the top of his head.

The economic omens for New Zealand this year are good.

John Key will probably get in a few more rounds of golf in Maui before he returns to New Zealand to get his election year planning under way in earnest.

I'm considering signing my kids up for KiwiSaver, in part to get the $1000 kickstart but will also make regular contributions.

Well, this was supposed to be the quirky, light-hearted year-ender column, full of whimsical reflections on the big business events of 2013.

So should we look on the TPP with hope or dread? Impossible to say until we know what "it" is, writes Brian Fallow. It doesn't help that these meetings are conducted with all the secrecy of a papal election.

Auditor-General Lyn Provost is keeping a watching brief on Auckland Council chief executive Doug McKay's review of Mayor Len Brown's possible use of council resources.

Australia's automotive and aviation industries appear to be on the brink of collapse, writes Liam Dann. Holden is considering pulling its manufacturing operations out of the lucky country.