Investors have voiced concerns over declining US market growth - resulting in a significant drop.

US President Donald Trump also didn't rule out a recession in a recent interview, which led to further pullbacks this week.

Milford Asset Management's Stephanie Batchelor explained further.

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The International Monetary Fund is cautioning the Government against bending over backwards, deregulating banks in a bid to spur more competition in the sector.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is getting advice on whether she should make the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) loosen the way it regulates banks.

The Commerce Commission has also suggested the rules could be changed to make it easier for small banks to compete with big ones.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains why the IMF is issuing words of caution as these discussions take place.

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Delegates from some of the world's largest banks and investment firms have arrived in Auckland for the Government's first Infrastructure Investment Summit.

Cabinet Ministers are expected to front a raft of sessions over the next two days - and it's believed a series of announcements will be delivered regarding New Zealand's future.

Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls is set to be at tomorrow's big conference - and he suspects a 'smorgasbord' of big political names will have something to say.

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The Energy Minister says he's doing his best to improve the stability of energy supply.

A new gas well at the Pohokura Production Station in Taranaki was switched on this morning.

It will provide 4 petajoules of gas a year, which could power about 146,000 homes annually.

Shane Jones says it won't be a silver bullet - but it will help.

"So I'm working on various proposals as to how we can accelerate both money into the industry - and genuine economic ability."

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Banks are hanging tough despite tough economic conditions.

A KPMG report has found the sector's net profit for 2024 increased just 0.25 percent from the previous year.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this still adds up to $7.22 billion.

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Briscoe Group's revenue has stayed virtually flat, with profit taking a hit.

Total revenue for the owner of Briscoe Homeware and Rebel Sport decreased 0.06 percent - to $791.5 million - for the year to January.

It's reporting net after-tax profit of $60.6 million, dropping 38.9 percent on the year before.

Managing director, Rod Duke, says the Government needs to put some new solutions forward to help the economy grow.

"That's be my assessment - and I think the time is probably about right now."

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An overhaul of the Government's procurement rule is a win for small Kiwi businesses.

The Finance Minister is scrapping 24 requirements and adding a new economic benefit test.

BusinessNZ's Katherine Baird says this is an important move for the future of New Zealand's business sector.

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Stock markets across the US have taken a significant hit over concerns about the negative economic impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs.

After the President refused to rule out a recession, the S&P 500 dropped 2.7 percent, the Nasdaq fell 4 percent and the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2 percent.

Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says US markets have a right to be worried following Trump's comments.

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