Financial stability risks have increased over the past six months on the back of global economic uncertainty. The financial system is well placed to support households and businesses. While lower interest rates are reducing debt-servicing costs and easing financial stress for borrowers domestically, risks to global economic growth have increased sharply. The banking sector has significant buffers to continue to provide credit to the economy even if conditions worsen further. The US imposed sweeping tariffs on goods imports from New Zealand and our major trading partners. Trade tensions between the US and other ... (full story)