K: Financial and Insurance Services

$2.5m super cap gains support

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Original article by Sally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 4-Aug-15

There is growing support among superannuation funds for the introduction of a cap on super balances of at least $A2.5 million. The Actuaries Institute expressed support for the cap in its submission to the Australian Government’s tax inquiry, which closed on 31 July 2015. The institute also believes that the transfer of super from the accumulation to retirement phase should trigger capital gains tax liability.

CORPORATES
THE INSTITUTE OF ACTUARIES OF AUSTRALIA, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, BT FINANCIAL GROUP PTY LTD, THE ASSOCIATION OF SUPERANNUATION FUNDS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TOWERS WATSON, INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SUPERANNUATION TRUSTEES, FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE

Mobile banking tipped to wipe 600 branches

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 3-Aug-15

A UBS report forecasts that the growing shift to the use of mobile banking services will result in a 5.6 per cent reduction in the number of bank branches globally. Australian bank executives who participated in the UBS survey expect local bank branch numbers to be slashed by 11 per cent in coming years, which would equate to 603 branches. The survey also forecasts that the proportion of banking transactions carried out using mobile technology will rise from 25 per cent to 46 per cent in the next three years.

CORPORATES
UBS AG, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, SCENTRE GROUP – ASX SCG, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, NAB VENTURES

ANZ offers women free super advice

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Original article by Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 29-Jul-15

It is estimated that Australian women who work full-time are paid about $A15,000 less each year than their male peers. Women also tend to have about 50 per cent less in superannuation upon retirement. The ANZ Bank has launched initiatives aimed at addressing this imbalance. Female customers whose super balance is less than $A50,000 will be offered free financial advice. ANZ’s female employees will also be paid an additional $A500 in super each year.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Super board overhaul will cost up to $168m

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Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 29-Jul-15

Industry Super Australia has estimated that implementing the Federal Government’s governance reforms for the superannuation industry will cost between $A89m and $A168m. Amongst other things, super funds will have to recruit and train new directors in order to comply with the requirement that 33 per cent of directors – and the chair – are independent. Australian Institute of Company Directors CEO John Brogden rejects suggestions that directors will demand higher fees for being on the board of a super fund.

CORPORATES
INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF COMPANY DIRECTORS, FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence Creeps Higher

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Jul-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose by 0.6 per cent to 112.5 in the week ended 26 July 2015. This follows a rise of 4.5 per cent in the previous week, driven by easing concerns around the Greece debt crisis and China stock market volatility. Despite this bounce, consumer confidence remains subdued and is down 3.2 per cent compared with this time in 2014. The sub-index for households’ finances in the next year rose by 1.1 per cent, but the sub-indices for confidence in the economic outlook over the short-term and medium term fell by 1.4 per cent and 0.5 per cent respectively.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

SMSFs opt for better returns

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Original article by Kate Cowling
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 28-Jul-15

A report by the SMSF Association and nabtrade shows that 15 per cent of self-managed superannuation fund members opted to outsource the investment process in 2014. This compares with just 7.3 per cent in 2012. Almost 40 per cent of SMSF investors chose to handle investment decisions themselves in 2014, which has not changed much since 2012. The report also shows that falling interest rates have prompted many SMSF members to increase their exposure to assets such as shares.

CORPORATES
SELF-MANAGED SUPER FUND ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NABTRADE

Westpac’s $1m-a-day IT glitch

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Original article by James Eyers, Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 28-Jul-15

The Commonwealth and ANZ banks increased their mortgage interest rates for property investors in late July 2015, while cutting fixed interest rates for owner-occupiers. However, Westpac and National Australia Bank currently have a single reference rate for both types of customers, which has forced the latter to increase interest rates for both. Westpac’s IT systems do not allow it to charge different interest rates at present, which is said to be costing it about $A1.15m each day.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, BANK OF MELBOURNE LIMITED, ST GEORGE BANK LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSSIE HOME LOANS LIMITED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

Australia may miss out on global M&A frenzy

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Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 24-Jul-15

Some $US2.28trn ($A3.09trn) worth of global mergers and acquisitions were announced during the first half of 2015, according to data from Dealogic. This includes 31 deals worth at least $US10bn. However, M&A activity in Australia has totalled just $US56.9bn so far in 2015, and David Friedlander of law firm King & Wood Mallesons describes the level of local activity as "disappointing". Grant Chamberlain of Bank of America Merrill Lynch says five local deals worth at least $A5bn were announced during the first half.

CORPORATES
KING AND WOOD MALLESONS, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED, ASCIANO LIMITED – ASX AIO, FEDERATION CENTRES – ASX FDC, NOVION PROPERTY GROUP, BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED, GREENHILL AND COMPANY, GRESHAM PARTNERS LIMITED

Large caps shine in under-loved index

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Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 24-Jul-15

Analysis by Morningstar shows that the Australian sharemarket is currently trading at a price/earnings ratio of 15.5. The market’s earnings yield is 6.5 per cent, while the yield on 10-year bonds is around three per cent. Morningstar believes that the local sharemarket still offers value, and it favours large-capitalisation stocks such as National Australia Bank, BHP Billiton, Veda Group, Santos and Goodman Group.

CORPORATES
MORNINGSTAR PTY LTD, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, VEDA GROUP LIMITED – ASX VED, PLATINUM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX PTM, GOODMAN GROUP – ASX GMG, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, AWE LIMITED – ASX AWE, ALUMINA LIMITED – ASX AWC, ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

Chinese investment in property tipped to surge

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Original article by Sally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 22-Jul-15

The Chinese Government’s decision to make the nation’s sharemarket more accessible to international investors has prompted a rally in Shanghai Composite Index over the last year. However, some economists expect the relaxation of rules governing capital outflows from China to have a bigger impact in the long-term. Stephen Halmarick of Colonial First State Global Asset Management expects this to include a big rise in Chinese investment in Australia’s property market.

CORPORATES
COLONIAL FIRST STATE GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT, ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SUPERANNUATION TRUSTEES, SHANGHAI COMPOSITE INDEX, CHINA. NATIONAL BUREAU OF STATISTICS, MACQUARIE ASSET MANAGEMENT