Monday media round-up 19/07/10

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories.
 

• Bernard Hickey: Chilling levels of household debt finally dawns
  "In years to come New Zealanders will look back on the winter of 2010 as the moment we finally realised the last decade of growth was a sham." (NZ Herald - Show Me the Money blog)

• Brent Sheather: Woolley's thinking right on the money
  "Most people know that things aren't right in the financial world at present." (NZ Herald)
   
• Katrina Kruger: Bar raised for finance advisers
  "Brian Gaynor's July 10 column headlined 'Save seat for old pros in adviser school' highlighted that, in the past, financial advice has sometimes been given in New Zealand by individuals with little formal training or experience." (NZ Herald)
   
• Inflation now 1.8pc - lower food prices offset tobacco hike
  The consumers price index (CPI) rose 0.3 per cent for the June 2010 quarter, Statistics New Zealand said today, which means annual inflation is now running at 1.8 per cent. (NZ Herald)
   
• Interest rates tipped to rise despite CPI dip
  Economists expect the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates further late this month, despite lower than expected inflation figures. (NZ Herald)
   
• David Chaplin: ASIC clears the smoke from CFDs
  And speaking of retail investors getting into investment products they don't really understand have a read of this lovely release from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. (NZ Herald - Inside Money blog)
   
• Mary Holm: KiwiSaver welcomes beneficiaries
  Mary answers readers' questions about KiwiSaver for beneficiaries and financial advisers. (NZ Herald)
   
• Greer McDonald: Under the spotlight - Gambling
  "I made more than $1000 last year from Lotto and I never actually bought a ticket." (Lady in the Red blog - Stuff)
   
• Distrust, apathy behind reluctance to join KiwiSaver
  Apathy, mistrust, poverty and ignorance are among the main reasons people have not joined KiwiSaver so far, a survey suggests. (Stuff)
   
• Investors suffer 'armageddon hypochondria'
  Investors are suffering from unfounded anxiety - or ``armageddon hypochondria'' - if they think the global economy is headed for a double dip recession, economists say. (Stuff)
   
• Bruce Sheppard: Conflicts of interest
  "The one insidious thing with investing, and for that matter borrowing, is conflict of interest, whether adequately disclosed or not." (Stuff - Stirring the Pot blog)
   
• Muted house sales predicted
  The housing market is expected to remain weak for the rest of the year after real estate turnover for June proved sluggish. (Stuff)