Archived News for Finance Sector Professionals

Dwelling approvals have taken a drop in the first three moenths of 2013, reversing a strong period of growth throughout 2012, according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Building Approvals report.

Housing prices drop after March rally

Housing prices have recorded a 0.5 per cent drop in April following a solid 2.8 per cent gain over the first three months of 2013.

Super funds to disclose fee value and risk taking

Providers of MySuper products will soon be required to disclose investment risk, dollar value of fees and their investment performance in an easy to read and understand way after the Federal Government took the lid off new draft regulations.

Act now on budget problems urges Grattan Institute

The Federal Government could soon be facing budget deficits of up to $60 billion a year, according to a new Grattan Institute report into the health of the nation’s finances.

Aussie savings fighting fit finds Bankwest

Almost a quarter of Australians are now ‘financially fit’, thanks to a healthy savings mentality and a resilient local economy, according to the latest research from Bankwest.

Government doesn't get business say leaders

The relationship between the nation’s businesses and the Federal Government has plunged new depths, according to the latest survey of company directors.

Household savings triple finds ING

Low interest rates and controlled inflation have failed to dampen Australians’ new found love of savings, with the average household savings rising to $15,427 from $5,155 over the last two years.

Commission tracks workforce evolution

The Productivity Commission has tracked the ever-changing nature of the Australian workforce, publishing a report into the different arrangements of employment over the 2001-11 period.

CPI posts 0.4 per cent rise

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 0.4 per cent in the March quarter, following on from a 0.2 per cent increase in December, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Business confidence on the increase

Finance and property have come out as the two shining industries of the Australian economy, driving the first lift in business confidence since 2011, according to NAB’s latest Quarterly Business Survey.

Consumer spending continues rally

Consumer spending has recorded its seven straight month of growth, posting a healthy 0.4 per cent increase in March according to the Commonwealth Bank’s latest Business Sales Indicator (BSI).

Land sales up finds new report

The December quarter saw a 13 per cent upswing in residential land sales, according to the latest HIA-RP Data Resedential Land Report.

More borrowers missing repayments finds report

More and more of the nation’s borrowers are missing repayments, according to the latest Fitch Ratings Dinkum Index.

Savings tipped to fall as consumers take up plastic

Australians are increasingly returning to their spend-thrift ways, with more consumers planning to use their credit cards this quarter, while savings will be less of a focus, according to the latest research from Dunn and Bradstreet (D&B).

Growth index posts healthy Feb gains

The nation’s economic activity has hit 4.2 per cent in February, comfortably above the 2.8 per cent long term trend growth, according to the latest Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index.

New ACCC appointments announced

The Federal Government has announced a number of key appointments to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Personal lending up in February

Personal lending has recorded a 2.8 per cent upswing in February, according to the latest figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Residential work rebounds

The value of residential and non-residential building work done throughout the country has increased by 1.2 per cent over the last quarter, according to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Debit card use surges as credit languishes

Debit card usage by Australians is surging ahead, with the total usage set to overtake credit card use within the coming years according to the latest figures released by Roy Morgan Research.

BOQ snaps up Virgin Money

The Bank of Queensland (BOQ) is set to significantly expand its distribution network after the bank announced it has purchased Virgin Money Australia for $40 million.

Unemployment creeps up in March

Australia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased 0.2 percentage points to 5.6 per cent in March, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) announced.