Bank of Qld hit with second class action

March 15, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Georgia Wilkins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 15-Mar-16

Law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has launched legal action against Bank of Queensland, alleging that the bank "knowingly assisted" Sherwin Financial Planners in distributing-Ponzi-like products. The law firm is representing investors in the Petersen Superannuation Fund who invested in Money Market Deposit Accounts offered by Sherwin Financial Planners.

CORPORATES
BANK OF QUEENSLAND LIMITED – ASX BOQ, QUINN EMANUEL URQUHART AND SULLIVAN LP, WICKHAM SECURITIES LIMITED, SHERWIN FINANCIAL PLANNERS PTY LTD, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, DDH GRAHAM LIMITED, SHINE LAWYERS, BRISBANE MAGISTRATES’ COURT, PETERSEN SUPERANNUATION FUND

Besieged bank vows to improve process

March 11, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Michael Bennet
The Australian – Page: 7 : 11-Mar-16

The Commonwealth Bank has promised to thoroughly investigate recent allegations of unethical behaviour at its insurance business. Reports in the media outline allegations of doctors being under pressure to change their diagnoses of life insurance policyholders to match CommInsure’s commercial goals. Superannuation fund HESTA is reviewing its relationship with CommInsure.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, COMMINSURE, HEALTH EMPLOYEES’ SUPERANNUATION TRUST AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Citi expects bank dividends to be ‘significantly lower’

March 8, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Chessell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 8-Mar-16

Citi Global Markets’ Sebastien Bland has warned that hedge funds and long-only fund managers in the UK and Europe are not convinced that Australian banks’ dividend payouts are sustainable given their current capital levels. He says hedge funds believe that the banks will need to reduce their dividend payout ratios, but he adds that long-only funds expect the banks to maintain dividends via measures such as dividend reinvestment plans.

CORPORATES
CITI GLOBAL MARKETS, CITIGROUP INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, VARIANT PERCEPTION

NAB Challenge satisfies NAB customers

March 1, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Mar-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 82 per cent of National Australia Bank customers aged +14 who "occasionally" watch NAB Challenge games during the AFL’s pre-season are very or fairly satisfied with the bank, while the satisfaction level among those who "almost always" watch NAB Challenge matches is 88 per cent. Meanwhile, 80.2 per cent of National Australia Bank customers overall were satisfied with the bank during the six months to December 2015.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

CBA holds dividend as urgency fades

February 11, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 20 : 11-Feb-16

Commonwealth Bank shareholders will receive a 2015-16 interim dividend of $A1.98 per share, which equates to a payout ratio of around 70 per cent. The banking major has indicated that its full-year dividend payout will be 70-80 per cent of profits. Meanwhile, CEO Ian Narev says the bank is "very happy" with its current level of capital, and he expects the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to let banks increase their capital levels gradually. The Commonwealth Bank’s common equity tier 1 capital level is now 10.2 per cent, while APRA requires a minimum of eight per cent.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, NORDEA BANK AB, UBS AG

Satisfaction with big four banks up in December as home loan customers recover

February 5, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Feb-16

A Roy Morgan Research Single Source survey has found that the satisfaction level of the personal customers of Australia’s four major banks rose by 0.5 per cent to 80.9 per cent in the six months to December 2015. The Commonwealth Bank continued to have the highest customer satisfaction rating of the four major banks, at 82.4 per cent, which is 0.7 per cent higher than previously. It also had the highest satisfaction rating among the home loan customers of the big four banks, at 80.6 per cent. Smaller banks had the highest level of customer satisfaction overall, at 87 per cent, while the mutual sector’s customer satisfaction rating was 91.2 per cent.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, ST GEORGE BANK LIMITED, BANK OF MELBOURNE LIMITED, BENDIGO BANK, TEACHERS MUTUAL BANK LIMITED

NAB forced to delay Clydesdale float after ratings inquiry

February 3, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 3-Feb-16

Shares in National Australia Bank spin-off Clydesdale Bank were slated to list on the London Stock Exchange on 2 February 2016. However, NAB has postponed the float by 24 hours after an unnamed ratings agency sought information on Clydesdale’s deposit rating. The request could potentially result in Clydesdale’s credit rating being downgraded, although NAB has stressed that this would have no impact on the UK bank’s financial outlook or its cost of funding.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, CLYDESDALE BANK PLC, MARTIN CURRIE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, ALPHINITY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, MORGAN STANLEY AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, MERRILL LYNCH AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, JP MORGAN AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, CLIME ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

NAB shareholders back Clydesdale spin-off

January 28, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sally Rose, Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 18 : 28-Jan-16

National Australia Bank (NAB) will proceed with plans to demerge its Clydesdale Bank subsidiary in the UK, after 98 per cent of shareholders voted in favour of the deal. NAB shareholders will receive 75 per cent of Clydesdale’s shares, with the balance to be offered to institutional investors. However, the latter component of the transaction may be delayed if NAB fails to obtain a satisfactory price for the stock. NAB chairman Ken Henry says the bank’s dividend will not be affected by the sale of Clydesdale.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, CLYDESDALE BANK PLC, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

Australians feeling "financially stable" but currently below pre-GFC levels

January 27, 2016roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Jan-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey, which was carried out in the year to October 2015, has found that 60.4 per cent of Australians aged 14+ agree that they feel "financially stable at the moment". This compares with 61.2 per cent in the year to October 2007, prior to the global financial crisis, and 56.5 per cent in the year to October 2008. The survey also shows that 61.1 per cent of people who are customers of banks feel more stable regarding their finances than those who do not deal with banks (50.2 per cent).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED – ASX MBL, ING DIRECT, CITIBANK PTY LTD, BENDIGO BANK, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, BANK OF QUEENSLAND LIMITED – ASX BOQ, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

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