Westpac exits life insurance with $660 mln sale to Japan’s Dai-ichi
Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX) on Monday became the latest Australian firm to retreat from the life insurance sector, as it agreed to an A$900 million ($660 million) sale of its domestic unit to Japan’s Dai-ichi Life Holdings (8750.T).
Australia’s deal boom set to intensify on cheap cash, pandemic confidence -bankers
Australia’s record merger-and-acquisition (M&A) boom can only intensify in the near term as ultra-low interest rates and confidence that the economy will rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to drive deal activity, bankers said.
Sydney’s lockdown is likely to be extended, and Delta variant cases are on the rise!
On Thursday, the COVID-19 Delta outbreak in Sydney, Australia’s largest city, swelled by 239 cases, the pandemic’s daily maximum surge, prompting authorities to grant police more authority to shut down companies that do not comply with lockdown orders. Over two million people in eight Sydney hotspots will be required to wear masks outside and stay […]
Australian CPI blows hot in Q2, core inflation far cooler
Australia’s consumer prices rose at the fastest annual pace in almost 13 years last quarter as petrol jumped and government subsidies unwound, but a far tamer reading for core inflation suggested the spike would be fleeting.
Asia shares sit at 2021 lows ahead of Fed verdict
Asian shares stayed stuck at seven-month lows on Wednesday, as markets continued to digest a storm in Chinese equity markets, while the dollar rested with traders reluctant to place large bets ahead of the outcome of the Federal Reserve meeting.
Australian wealth manager AMP to revamp financial advice model
Australia’s AMP Ltd (AMP.AX) said on Monday it would move to a new form of financial advice model for clients, marking a shift in the troubled wealth manager’s advice operations as it embarks on a demerger from its infrastructure and property units.
June slump in Australia’s retail sales clouds Q3 growth outlook
Australian retail sales slumped in June as coronavirus lockdowns and mobility restrictions in much of the country hit demand, casting a shadow over the outlook for growth in the third quarter as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
Stocks falter as virus outbreaks fan global recovery fears
Asian stocks were down early on Tuesday as growing fears the spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus would harm the global economic recovery sent riskier assets, including oil, skidding sharply.
Australian central bank’s policy optimism tested by lockdowns
Australia’s central bank was counting on the economy to keep surprising with its strength when trimming stimulus earlier this month, but might now be forced to reconsider as coronavirus lockdowns spread across the country.
Australia’s Afterpay to launch banking app in October
Afterpay Ltd (APT.AX) will launch its banking app in October to widen its offerings beyond buy now, pay later (BNPL) services for its 3.5 million-plus Australian users as competition intensifies, the company said on Tuesday.
