Best of Business

The latest NZIER Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion has revealed business confidence has taken a hit for the March quarter.
Only a net 1 percent of firms expect better general economic conditions over the coming months on a seasonally adjusted basis.
EMA Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald says people were expecting the economy to get better - and this conflict put an economic 'handbrake' on recovery.
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Microsoft has today announced it will double its existing AI and digital skilling commitment in New Zealand, with a plan to train up over 200,000 Kiwis by 2028.
The company has observed this training will help many businesses, with survey data showing 59 percent of Kiwi business leaders say productivity must increase.
Microsoft's national chief technology officer, Sarah Carney, says upskilling will help unlock more opportunities for New Zealand's future.
"Skilling is how you unlock that. Teach people how to use the tools and set them free."
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Inflation's already looking vulnerable, with the reality of worse economic blows still to come.
Figures out today showed annual CPI unexpectedly held at 3.1 in this year's first three months, confounding expectations it would fall as low as 2.8.
Economist Cameron Bagrie says the rate reflects what was happening to prices, just as the cost of fuel began to climb, when the Iran war closed the Strait of Hormuz.
He says we'll get an inflationary hit in the June quarter, and a better starting position would have been preferable.
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Inflation was higher than it should be, even before factoring in the full impact of the war on Iran.
Stats NZ data shows the inflation rate remained unchanged at 3.1% in the March quarter.
Internationally driven tradeable inflation dipped to 2.5% and the domestically driven non-tradeable rate was unchanged at 3.5%.
The Herald's Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham these figures come before fuel rises really kicked off.
He says it's disappointing we aren't heading into that crisis in a better position.
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US President Donald Trump's accused Iran of completely violating its ceasefire agreement - with the Strait of Hormuz closed again.
Iran's fired shots at ships in the Strait over the weekend, and has warned it'll stay closed until the US lifts its blockade.
Harbour Asset Management expert Shane Solly revealed how these developments could impact markets.
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