The next big thing in computing lurking in Cambridge? Hotchin and Watson back in business together

Matthew Simmons was only 12 when he set up a business from his Christchurch home fixing loudspeakers. Now the serial entrepreneur may be sitting on a revolutionary leap in a holy grail of computing:  ever higher data compression at ever lower cost. Fiona Rotherham reports how he and American Alex St John, one of the creators of Microsoft’s DirectX operating system behind the Xbox, are developing a disruptive computer technology from Cambridge.

Hanover co-founders Eric Watson and Mark Hotchin have each taken an equity stake in a US-listed beverage company following a deal involving a company called Brentwood LIIT Inc. Duncan Bridgeman reports.

Although motorists are finally experiencing some relief at the petrol pump, inflation data out this week reveal a bigger picture, reports Jason Walls.

The horror start to the new year has pushed even the most conservative investors to rethink their portfolios, and raised geopolitical risks above economic risks, writes Nevil Gibson in Margin Call.

Meanwhile, columnists Michael Coote and Christian Hawkesby give their views on the global economy and market turmoil.

The Ministry of Justice breached court suppression orders four times last year, up from just once in 2014. But as Hamish McNicol reports, the the number of errors is “small” given the number of decisions it publishes every year.

The Christmas trading period tends to make up a good chunk of retailers’ sales in a year and this December proved a record breaker. But a tough dairy sector, a slowing Auckland housing market and adverse currency conditions may put the brakes on this year. Calida Smylie reviews the retail sector’s key trading period.

Financial complaints arbitrator FSCL gave securities firm CMC Markets a private heads-up on a pending decision, says an aggrieved client, claiming it left him seriously disadvantaged in settlement talks. Tim Hunter reports.

Next month will prove the most challenging time of the year for New Zealand’s busy tourist accommodation industry, writes Chris Hutching.

Failing to update aging computer infrastructure is making it easy for cyber criminals to steal from companies, according to a new industry report that Nathan Smith details.

Labour faces a choice between walking all the way to the gallows with Andrew Little or again attempting a last-minute escape with someone else, writes Matthew Hooton.

“Once you start charging for official information you are, in effect, charging for accountability and for democracy”. Rob Hosking pulls no punches in his Order Paper column this week.

A couple of intriguing developments during the dog days of early January have Shoeshine wondering about when information on publicly traded companies is price sensitive and when it isn’t.

Canterbury Television (CTV) may be on the chopping block if New Zealand on Air’s changes to regional funding are too drastic, writes Chelsea Armitage.

On the back of a spend-up holiday season, with a December bill of $6 billion on electronic cards alone, New Zealanders might be wise to reconsider their financial future and that of the country, writes Jacqueline Rowarth.

All this and more in today's National Business Review print edition. Out now.