A review of things you need to know before you go home on Tuesday; more home loan rate drops, more credit card balance transfer extensions, swaps rise, NZD falls, farms drier

Here are the key things you need to know before you leave work today.

TODAY'S MORTGAGE RATE CHANGES
SBS Bank has today claimed the lowest three year home loan rate with a 'special' at 5.49%, a full -10 bps lower than ASB and BNZ who had until recently the lowest three year rate. SBS Bank also reduced their five year 'special' to 5.94% which joins Kiwibank and Westpac who also have sub-6% five year rates.

TODAY'S DEPOSIT RATE CHANGES
The Co-operative Bank has reduced all its term deposit rates for terms of 18 months and longer by between -15 and -30 bps.

PLAYING CATCH-UP
ANZ has extended out its 'interest free' balance transfer offer from 6 months to 12 months. They are just matching their rivals with this extension.

SOCIAL HOUSING OPTIONS
The Greens want all money realised from state house sales to be ring-fenced for new state houses. This is a political issue now because of widespread expectations John Key will focus on social housing strategies tomorrow.

NAME CHANGE FOR DORCHESTER PACIFIC
Dorchester Pacific is changing its name following its takeover of Turners Auctions to use the Turners name. The name change is expected before February 28.

WHOLESALE RATES RISE
The local swap rates rose +3 bps across the curve today making back about half of yesterday's falls. The 90 day bank bill rate is at 3.66%.

NZ DOLLAR LOWER AGAIN
Check our real-time charts here. The NZ dollar was marginally lower again today. It is now at 74.3 USc, at 93.7 AUc, and the TWI is now at 77.6.

You can now see an animation of this chart. Click on it, or click here.