1Sharemarket There has been a massive upsurge in interest in investments in stocks and shares, particularly from new investors. Some share brokers are concerned that the small punter may be jeopardising the investment opportunities for the traditional large investors. It has even been suggested that people are borrowing large sums of money to invest, mortgaging their homes and paying up to 25% interest on the loans. What is happening on the New Zealand sharemarket? Who is investing in what, and why? What are the risks, both on a personal level, and to the New Zealand economy in general? Discussion and viewer feedback with stock broker and share broker Peter Churchouse.

2The Australian business community has responded favourably to the Australian Budget, presented to Parliament last night. However, union leaders have been much more cautious in its response. The Budget includes Government spending cuts on welfare, health, education, defence and foreign aid and increases costs for fuel, wine, healthcare and education. The Australian Government has also controversially reversed a long-standing policy banning uranium sales to France while it persists with nuclear testing in the Pacific.

3A car bomb has exploded at a busy city intersection in Tehran, killing twenty people.

4An explosion in central London has killed one man and injured another five people. Police believe the target was a video store owned by an Iranian, which distributed material critical of the Islamic Government in Iran.

5Farmers in southern Spain have discovered new wealth by using polythene glasshouses to produce fruit and vegetables for export. The result has been a massive increase in farmers' wealth in the region, but this has ironically coincided with an increase in the number of suicides. Scientists are trying to work out why this is the case. This report looks at the misery the new-found wealth has caused in one village.

6It has been announced that the Tasman Pulp and Paper Mill at Kawerau is to close indefinitely, putting 2000 people out of work.

7A brief listing of the New Zealand news headlines.

8The inhabitants of the remote Scottish island North Ronaldsay have been celebrating their partial victory in a war against hedgehogs.

9Sharemarket There has been a massive upsurge in interest in investments in stocks and shares, particularly from new investors. Some share brokers are concerned that the small punter may be jeopardising the investment opportunities for the traditional large investors. It has even been suggested that people are borrowing large sums of money to invest, mortgaging their homes and paying up to 25% interest on the loans. What is happening on the New Zealand sharemarket? Who is investing in what, and why? What are the risks, both on a personal level, and to the New Zealand economy in general? Discussion and viewer feedback with stock broker and share broker Peter Churchouse.

10A brief listing of the national and international news headlines.

11Sharemarket There has been a massive upsurge in interest in investments in stocks and shares, particularly from new investors. Some share brokers are concerned that the small punter may be jeopardising the investment opportunities for the traditional large investors. It has even been suggested that people are borrowing large sums of money to invest, mortgaging their homes and paying up to 25% interest on the loans. What is happening on the New Zealand sharemarket? Who is investing in what, and why? What are the risks, both on a personal level, and to the New Zealand economy in general? Discussion and viewer feedback with stock broker and share broker Peter Churchouse.

12A brief listing of the New Zealand news headlines.

13The Australian business community has responded favourably to the Australian Budget, presented to Parliament last night. However, union leaders have been much more cautious in its response. The Budget includes Government spending cuts on welfare, health, education, defence and foreign aid and increases costs for fuel, wine, healthcare and education. The Australian Government has also controversially reversed a long-standing policy banning uranium sales to France while it persists with nuclear testing in the Pacific.

14Recent political violence in Pakistan has eased somewhat following a military crackdown in the major cities. However, opponents of Pakistan's military Government say they will continue their agitation until Opposition leader Benazir Bhutto is released from prison and democratic elections are held. Pakistan is also staggering under the strain of caring for refugees who have flooded across the border since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. A report on this growing human crisis.

15Melbourne police have recovered the $2 million Pablo Picasso painting 'Weeping Woman', stolen from the National Gallery earlier this month.

16The latest eye catching fashion accessory is a fish tie, resembling a dead fish worn around the neck.