This Month
- Opinion
- Competition
Consulting firm fixes are impractical and an overreach
More importantly, they are not necessary to correct a deficiency in the regulation of delinquent behaviour, says the former ACCC chairman.
- Graeme Samuel
Westpac CEO wants super on a level playing field
The bank boss said comments by Apollo Capital Management should force an urgent rethink on regulatory rules for super funds.
- James Eyers
Former APRA chairman Wayne Byres joins ASX board
His appointment comes as the exchange faces a range of governance questions after its failure to replace ageing clearing and settlements infrastructure.
- James Eyers
Stephen Jones boosts dud Islamic super fund
The minister in charge of the super sector still provides tacit endorsement to a fund that performs so badly it is being regulated out of stand-alone existence.
- Myriam Robin
April
- Exclusive
- Big four
Westpac’s Yetton targets ‘right returns’ over mortgage wars
The consumer bank chief also also promises to extend a moratorium on regional branch closures until 2027.
- Lucas Baird and James Eyers
Loosen rules so banks can write more home loans: Liberal MP
Liberal Andrew Bragg has endorsed a call by bankers to relax home loan regulations to make it easier for first home buyers to enter the housing market.
- John Kehoe
ASIC secretly probed IAG’s Greensill disclosure
As IAG raised $750m, a hedge fund’s tip-off claimed there was scant detail about exposure to fast financier Greensill Group. Since then, $7b in gross claims have been declared.
- Liam Walsh and Jenny Wiggins
APRA’s lavish $70,000 Christmas Party
Do you think all that time peering over the expenses of financial institutions has induced a spot of envy within the APRA social committee?
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
Suncorp discovers stress-test flaws, files regulatory breach
The insurance-banking conglomerate says it is dealing with APRA about the problem but no penalty will be applied.
- Liam Walsh
- Opinion
- Regulation
Regional banks dying a slow death
The country’s smaller banks have a bleak future due to higher cost of funds, excessive capital requirements, costly technology upgrades and lack of scale. But will regulators do anything about it?
- Tony Boyd
March
Banks want to take more risk; Exciting stocks to watch; Do execs deserve mega pay?
This week, James and Anthony reveal why our big bank CEOs want to take more risks, ask whether big executive salaries really incentivise business leaders, and take the pulse of the market with a special guest fund manager.
Non-banks raise $15b for mortgages the banks couldn’t write
The major lenders have warned tough rules are pushing borrowers to more expensive and riskier loans. But banks still dominate the market.
- Updated
- Lucas Baird and James Eyers
- Updated
- Banking Summit
Banks warn growing risk aversion pushing borrowers into worse loans
National Australia Bank’s Ross McEwan says some prospective customers are being pushed toward riskier loans as the rules make lending more expensive.
- Updated
- Lucas Baird and James Eyers
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Australia’s banks must rise to the challenges of the next decade
The underlying financial strength of the big four got them through a turbulent decade just gone. More competitiveness is needed to get them through the next 10 years.
- The AFR View
A decade of Banking Summit front pages
Here’s how The Australian Financial Review told the story of a decade of momentous developments in banking and finance.
ASIC, APRA warn super funds on executive scrutiny
Regulators and lawyers have warned super funds they need to get their houses in order before tough new executive accountability laws come into force next year.
- Updated
- Hannah Wootton
From scandals to Team Australia: a decade of the AFR Banking Summit
The Summit is in its 10th year. We’ve had a courtside seat to the drama as a tarnished sector recovered during COVID.
- James Eyers and Lucas Baird
Super funds accused of using ‘myths’ in ‘relentless lobby’ for less scrutiny
Funds are also using the current performance test as a “a convenient scapegoat” to justify subpar returns instead of explaining their poor results, Karen Chester says.
- Hannah Wootton
Former top public servant and regulator join big super board
Martin Parkinson and Helen Rowell will join the Australian Retirement Trust as directors as it ramps up the independence of its board.
- Hannah Wootton
NAB escapes APRA capital penalty, Westpac and ANZ still bound
The prudential regulator said it was satisfied that NAB had fixed its governance issues, but was silent on two of the other big four banks.
- James Eyers