US President Donald Trump has signed more executive actions on key financial and tax rules. One order directs Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to examine the government's orderly liquidation authority to wind down failing megabanks outside of bankruptcy court. The second examines the risks of placing "systemically important" nonbank financial firms under the oversight of the Federal Reserve, which subjects them to stricter regulation.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/trumps-beltway-new-tax-exec-orders-and-nafta-being-tied-lighthizer-vote-ns-p-202201

Frogparking – until now solely owned by father-daughter team Don and Shareena Sandbrook – has just taken on its first outside investor (although the taxpayer has chipped in via a Callaghan Innovation grant). A consortium of local investors led by former Fonterra director Malcolm Bailey has bought a 25% stake in the Palmerston North company.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/frogparking-ck-p-202209

It is possible Prime Minister Bill English will pull a surprise or two when he announces a small cabinet reshuffle later today. Possible but not likely.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/opinion/cabinet-reshuffle-could-resolve-smith-issue

Craigs Investment Partners’ private wealth arm has turned more positive on Xero and is now recommending for the first time in years that investors include the stock in their portfolios. The recommendation is still cautious, but Craigs says more risk-tolerant investors should look to go over-weight Xero shares.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/craigs-turns-positive-xero-shares-jr-p-202180

If you were offered a 10 to 1 return on your investment, you would in all likelihood scoff at the very notion of such lofty returns. But the government has been achieving that through a proactive focus and an intelligence-led approach into specific areas of non-compliance.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/budget-2017-upping-stakes-tax-hide-and-seek-p-202149

Financial markets are facing “a monster of a week” dominated by global events that could culminate in the US government shutting down again if Congress can’t agree on a budget. Those budget negotiations, French politics and meetings of the European Central Bank and Bank of Japan are likely to be the major talking points of the week although, locally, the latest ANZ business survey due out on Friday will also be keenly watched.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/potential-us-government-shutdown-likely-dominate-week-jr-p-202183

Prime Minister Bill English has confirmed the heads of New Zealand’s closest intelligence partners are meeting in Queenstown this week. Directors of the US, the UK, Australia and Canada intelligence services will meet members of New Zealand’s services – a group collectively known as the “Five Eyes” in the intelligence community.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/five-eyes-meeting-shows-nz-pulling-its-weight-former-sis-officer-ns-p-202189

Under-pressure Orion Health is cutting jobs and its research and development budget, chief executive Ian McCrae says. Anecdotal evidence suggests the restructure could be major. A source inside the patient healthcare software maker says there has been a “steady stream” of staff going into consultation meetings over the past couple of days, with many coming out in tears.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/orion-health-cuts-jobs-rd-budget-ck-p-202142

Shareholders at property company NPT have rejected a $230 million deal with Kiwi Property Group and voted to change the board. The result is a victory for NPT’s 18.8% shareholder Augusta Capital and fund manager Salt Funds, holder of 13.7%, who had strongly opposed the deal with Kiwi.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/augusta-wins-day-th-p-202151

The government’s clampdown on immigration rules will have a significant impact on the hospitality industry, and extra costs could be passed on to customers, an industry group says. Changes to immigration policy mean a migrant will need to earn more than $49,000 a year to qualify for a skilled worker visa.

Read more ($): https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/immigration-rule-changes-hit-hospitality-industry-pocket-cs-p-202144