K: Financial and Insurance Services

Job data puts rate cut expectations on hold

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 27 : 19-Jul-19

The chances of an interest rate cut in August have lengthened following the release of data showing that Australia’s official unemployment rate was steady at 5.2 per cent in June. Analysis by Westpac suggests that financial markets are pricing in a 15 per cent chance of a rate cut in August, although the Reserve Bank is still widely tipped to ease monetary policy by the end of the year. The jobless rate rose from 5.19 per cent to 5.24 per cent in unrounded terms in June, while the underemployment rate fell to 8.2 per cent.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED

Mergers loom as regulator changes tactics

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Original article by Cliona O’Dowd, Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 18-Jul-19

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority chairman Wayne Byres concedes that regulating superannuation funds is more problematic than banks, as the latter are not subject to capital requirements. Ian Fryer of Chant West says APRA will be much more proactive in regulating the super industry in the wake of its capability review, adding that increased regulatory attention may accelerate consolidation in the sector. Cbus also anticipates merger activity in the sector as underperforming funds come under greater scrutiny.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, CHANT WEST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD, CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING UNIONS’ SUPERANNUATION FUND, INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Super funds post solid returns, but challenging times ahead

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Original article by Samantha Bailey
The Australian – Page: 17 & 27 : 18-Jul-19

Data from Chant West shows that the median growth superannuation fund achieved a return of seven per cent in 2018-19. QSuper and UniSuper delivered the best return, at 9.9 per cent apiece, followed by Media Super and AustralianSuper with returns of 8.8 per cent and 8.7 per cent respectively. Growth funds have averaged a return of 8.8 per cent per annum over the last decade, but Ian Fryer and Mano Mhankumar of Chant West warn that the sector faces headwinds and investors should not expect such returns to be sustained. However, Fryer says it is important to note that super is a long-term investment.

CORPORATES
CHANT WEST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD, QSUPER LIMITED, UNISUPER LIMITED, MEDIA SUPER LIMITED, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, HOST-PLUS, SUPERRATINGS PTY LTD

AMP’s credit ratings still at risk after stalled life sale

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Original article by Jonathan Shapiro, James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 17-Jul-19

S&P Global has advised that AMP’s credit rating will remain on negative watch after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand imposed conditions on the sale of its life insurance business. Nicholas Yap of Nomura believes that AMP is likely to face a credit ratings downgrade at some point, citing factors such as a reduction in the value of its life business and a class action lawsuit over excessive superannuation fees. AMP shares fell 1.6 per cent to $1.78 on 16 July.

CORPORATES
AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, AMP LIFE LIMITED, S&P GLOBAL RATINGS, NOMURA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, RESOLUTION LIFE GROUP LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED

APRA ordered to toughen up

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 17-Jul-19

A report has concluded that an overhaul of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s internal culture and regulatory approach is needed. Former Australian Competition & Consumer Commission chairman Graeme Samuel headed the capability review, which was undertaken in the wake of the Hayne royal commission. APRA and the federal government have accepted all of the review’s recommendations, which include increased oversight of banks and superannuation funds.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION

RBA flags another rate cut if jobs market deteriorates

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 2 : 17-Jul-19

The Reserve Bank of Australia indicated in the minutes of its monthly board meeting that there is likely to be spare capacity in the labour market for some time, while jobs growth is likely to ‘moderate’. Labour market data for June will be released on 18 July, and the official unemployment rate is expected to be steady at 5.2 per cent. The employment and inflation outlook is likely to influence the timing of further interest rate cuts; some economists say the RBA may wait to gauge the impact of the cuts in June and July before further easing monetary policy.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

AMP rattled as $3.3bn sale breaks down

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Original article by Cliona O’Dowd, Joyce Moullakis
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 16-Jul-19

Shares in AMP closed 15.81 per cent lower at $1.81 on 15 July after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand thwarted the proposed sale of its life insurance division. The central bank said it would not support the sale of AMP Life NZ to the UK-based Resolution Life unless the assets underpinning New Zealanders’ policies are ‘ring-fenced’. AMP still hopes to secure a deal, but analysts say any sale now is likely to be at a much lower price than the $3.3bn that Resolution Life had agreed to pay. AMP has also advised that investors will not receive an interim dividend, citing uncertainty regarding the sale of AMP Life.

CORPORATES
AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, AMP LIFE LIMITED, RESOLUTION LIFE GROUP LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MORNINGSTAR PTY LTD, REGAL FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

ANZ the first bank to loosen lending criteria

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Original article by Eric Johnston
The Australian – Page: 19 : 15-Jul-19

The ANZ Bank has advised that its ‘floor rate’ for home loan customers will be reduced from 7.25 per cent to 5.5 per cent in response to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s recent reforms. ANZ will also increase its sensitivity margin to 2.5 per cent. Rival banks are expected to quickly follow ANZ in reducing their floor rates, which are used to assess a borrower’s ability to repay a loan.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED

RBA could weigh cheap cash to banks if rates fall: analysts

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Original article by Jonathan Shapiro
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 15-Jul-19

Observers expect the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut the cash rate again by the end of 2019. However, analysts estimate that bank earnings would be reduced by seven per cent if they were to pass on the next interest rate cut in full, meaning only a partial cut in mortgage rates is likely. Credit Suisse has suggested that the RBA might offer cheap funding to banks that offer to pass on the next rate cut in full under a scheme similar to that adopted by the Bank of England after it cut interest rates following the Brexit vote in 2016.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, BANK OF ENGLAND, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

Housing loan growth at decade low as squeeze hits

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Original article by Nick Lenaghan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 12-Jul-19

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that housing finance approvals declined by 2.4 per cent in May 2019 and 20.9 per cent in the year to May. Lending to owner occupiers was down 2.7 per cent in May and 18 per cent over the year, while lending to investors fell by 1.7 per cent and 27.8 per cent respectively. However, the monthly figures also show that there was 0.8 per cent growth in housing finance for owner-occupiers who were buying their first home.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COUNCIL OF FINANCIAL REGULATORS