MacroBusiness covers Australian banks from the perspective of their macro-economic role, as political economy actors, as investment propositions and in terms of financial stability and capital adequacy. Australian banks have played a crucial role in inflating the Australian property bubble, exist within an utterly privileged position as “too big to fail” institutions and operate within a deeply distorted financial architecture that has Australian tax payers well and truly on the hook in the event of trouble. MacroBusiness seeks to define this role for investors as well as change it in the name of the Australian national interest.
This woman has to resign to save her soul: Sydney, 22 August 2017: Australia’s major banks have resolved to mount a challenge to the SA bank tax if it is legislated, the Australian Bankers’ Association announced today. “The South Australian Government will face a High Court challenge if it introduces its proposed bank tax,” ABA
Via Morgan Stanley: While Australian banks’ margin recovery is in the sweet spot in late 2017, today’s new data from WBC shows IOL switching could be playing out earlier than the market expects. This presents downside risk to margins in 2018. Interest only switching is rising: WBC has more IOL(~50% of Australian mortgages) than other
And why wouldn’t they, sheesh, from Banking Day: Institutional shareholders are reviewing their equity exposures to Commonwealth Bank amid deepening concern that the valuation premium on the company’s stock will continue to erode. Many of Australia’s largest super funds and listed equity trusts – including Australian Foundation Investment Company, Argo Investments and Australian Super –
Banana Man is once gain in control in China: Big Iron is loving it with FMG up 7%: Big Gas is also up with oil: Big Gold is stable. I remain a seller on the bold hope that the Trump Administration is at the lows (for now): Big Bubble is getting caned, especially Terror Bank
Dalian has tried but largely failed to blow off again today: Big Iron is down: Big Gas too. ORG is showing promise, and why wouldn’t it, so long as you don’t mind stealing from pensioners: Big Gold is mixed and I’m still a seller here. North Korea is a non issue and the ECB is
It think we can call this brand damage, via The Australian: Six transactions by five customers made through Commonwealth Bank’s intelligent deposit ATMs may have financed terrorism, Austrac has alleged. …Mr Clark said prosecution was “not something we take lightly”. …Asked whether the allegations listed in the 600-page statement of claim against CBA werer exhaustive,
The commodity pain trade is roaring upwards today with iron ore off the hook up 6%: Big Iron is pretty circumspect about it: Big Gas is weak, notably so when one reads all of the positive guff coming from brokers: Big Gold is hot as it signals more USD weakness. I am a seller here
By Nathan Lynch, Asia-Pacific bureau chief, financial crime and risk, Thomson Reuters Commonwealth Bank of Australia faces enquiries from a range of different regulatory agencies in various jurisdictions over its alleged anti-money laundering failures, sources said. The bank is already preparing a response to the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre’s litigation alleging more than
Oh dear, via Chanticleer: One of the ugly sleeper issues buried in the 580-page statement of claim issued by financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia is the accusation the bank failed to report its suspicions that a customer had links to terrorism financing. Under the law any suspicion of terrorism financing must be
Via Morgan Stanley: The pending retirement of CEO Narev in 2018 suggests more change is likely at CBA. At the same time, we believe the end of the mortgage bull market and increased political and regulatory scrutiny will weigh on CBA’s growth, returns and trading multiples. Response to the AUSTRAC announcement: The Chairman has responded
By Nathan Lynch, Asia-Pacific bureau chief, financial crime and risk, Thomson Reuters The Commonwealth Bank money laundering scandal claimed its first scalp yesterday morning, with the imminent departure of chief executive Ian Narev. For the embattled CBA chief, the A$8.9 billion smart laundromat affair was the last straw. This article explores the untold story of
See ya and wouldn’t wanna be ya. That’s today’s market message for Ian Narev as CBA jumps on his exit: Dalian is eroding as China data heralds the slowdown: Not that Big Iron cares: But it will! Big Gas also looks weakish: Big Gold is flying though: I’m a seller here as the DPRK
Via Domainfax: Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ian Narev will leave the bank by the end of this financial year, the bank’s chairman Catherine Livingstone says. As the country’s biggest lender is engulfed by allegations it breached anti-money laundering rules, Ms Livingstone said Mr Narev would retire by June 2018, subject to when it was able to find a replacement. The announcement comes
By Leith van Onselen ASIC has announced that it too will investigate CBA for failing to comply with continuous disclosure rules relating to its money laundering scandal. From The ABC: ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft said the corporate regulator would investigate whether the CBA’s board complied with continuous disclosure laws when it decided not to alert
By Leith van Onselen South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill yesterday accused the local media of undermining democracy by running advertisements that oppose his government’s controversial bank levy. From The Australian: South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has stepped up an extraordinary attack on banks, today accusing the media of co-operating with financial institutions to achieve a
Australia you’ve been conned, hoodwinked by APRA to ensure that the too big to fail taxpayer guarantee of Mega Bank (CBA, NAB, ANZ and WBC) continues unabated. Another example of the game of mates, where APRA gains by pointing to a job well done on system stability, even while the risk rests squarely on the
by Chris Becker Money laundering scandal? What money laundering scandal? The biggest division of Megabank, the former government owned division, just posted its eighth record high profit, slightly beating expectations. More from Bloomberg: Cash profit, which excludes one-time items, rose 4.6 percent to A$9.88 billion ($7.8 billion) in the 12 months ended June 30 from
By Leith van Onselen The AFR reports today that AUSTRAC believes the CBA is not the only bank that has been targeted by crime groups. The agency’s statement of claim against CBA notes that other Australian banks have been used by money-laundering syndicates. They are believed to include Westpac and the ANZ, although AUSTRAC does
By Leith van Onselen The fallout from the CBA’s money laundering scandal continues, with the CBA board agreeing to slash short-term bonuses for CEO Ian Narev and 11 of his executives, and the board also cutting director fees by 20%. From The ABC: Chief executive Ian Narev and his fellow senior executives will lose all
By Leith van Onselen Former Westpac CEO, David Morgan, is the latest banking fat cat to decry the Turnbull Government’s 0.06% levy on the liabilities of the Big Four banks and Macquarie, labeling it a “naked revenue grab” and inefficient tax policy. From The AFR: Dr Morgan, who formerly ran Westpac Banking Corp and was
By Leith van Onselen The fallout over the CBA’s money laundering scandal continues. Here’s a rundown of the key articles on this issue reported today via the mainstream media. Over at The AFR, CEO Ian Narev has moved into damage control, admitting that CBA has “made mistakes” and assuring the public that it is taking
Cross-posted from The Conversation: The Commonwealth Bank is facing another scandal as the Australian Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) launches civil proceedings accusing the bank of being complicit in money laundering. This exposes a deeply worrying prospect, that the Australian public are vulnerable to crime and terrorism directly funded through the Australian banking system.
by Chris Becker It was never going to be a stellar day on the stock market, as traders preposition for the most important economic print on the calendar, tonight’s US unemployment release in addition to the poor lead from US stocks which fell on news of a widening investigation into Trump’s collusion with the Russians.
by Chris Becker News came in just after the close of the markets yesterday that looks set to pull the rug out of its share price on the open this morning. Austrac, the government’s financial intelligence body tasked with enforcing the the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act has alleged that “Commonwealth Bank failed to
A currency shock is being unleashed upon Australia: How high it goes is anybody’s guess. I still say low 82-83 cents with DXY falling further yet as EUR powers on. But everything is sure getting overheated. Dalian is falling: The ASX is staggering under the load. Big Iron is trying but can’t get far: Big
