Markets & Housing: The NZX 50 slipped 0.2% as higher bond yields unnerved investors, with late gains in Fisher & Paykel Healthcare and Auckland Airport offsetting broader selling. Housing pipeline: Stats NZ data showed August building consents rose 12% year-on-year (3,440 new homes), led by Auckland and Canterbury, though analysts warned the monthly trend is flattening amid higher rates and costs. Banking M&A: Heartland Group shareholders backed the $620m merger with TSB Bank, clearing the way for the combined operation. Cash access: The RBNZ found strong public support to keep access to cash services, with 90% backing a national standard, and says it will work with a bank group to improve coverage. Digital tax & software: Australia moved to broaden royalty withholding tax rules for offshore software and IP, while Inland Revenue released draft guidance on how software, cloud and SaaS payments should be treated. Cyber & AI risk: Field Effect is expanding tools to detect and curb “shadow AI” and risky AI use inside companies. Politics & policy risk: Reuters reports investor unease ahead of the November election as a single-term government could bring faster policy reversals, including around the RBNZ mandate. Global business headline: Powerus completed its merger with Aureus Greenway Holdings and will trade on Nasdaq as PUSA. Aviation safety: Flydubai captain Smit Machchhar remains in stable condition after a cockpit stabbing incident that led to an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.