CBA

If CEO Matt Comyn was cock-a-hoop with the interim result and what it meant for shareholders, he did a first-class job in hiding it from the market. Instead, in an era of bank bashing, he opted to stress what the bank was doing for customers.

Self-funded retirees understand the capital risk in holding the ‘big four’. It’s one they’re prepared to take knowing their effective grossed-up yields are much higher than the nominal figure.

For the past year, the banks have delivered to shareholders with income and capital gain. In the run-up to their next results, it might be time to consider taking some scrip off the table and pocketing a tidy profit.

Lingering distrust over last year’s data breach made Optus the most distrusted brand in Australia in the year through June and confirmed falling trust for telecoms, while retailers Woolworths and Coles again topped the most-trusted list.

Recently released wages data increased the likelihood the RBA will pause its rate hiking campaign for the near term, economists say. Meanwhile, an increase in full-time employment, and the wages they earn for it, has helped narrow Australia’s gender wages gap to its lowest-ever level.

While markets expected a pause, the RBA board’s hawkish tone implying a further cut in August surprised many. For Australia’s property sector in particular, observers say the path to a soft landing may be getting even more treacherous.

Economists attributed the rebound partly to the market’s expectations that interest rates had peaked. But the other key driver – the drastic supply/demand imbalance – means higher prices, especially for rents, may be further complicating the central bank’s task.

AMP recently promoted senior economist Diana Mousina to a new role, deputy chief economist, in recognition of her achievements and succession path. Like other economists, Mousina sees a recession on the cards for Australia, although the timeline may be longer than many hope.

Household wealth in September recorded its third largest quarterly decline since the Australian Bureau of Statistics began keeping records in 1989. And wealth is likely to keep falling in the coming quarters, as the lagged effects of interest rate hikes flow through.

The Australian dollar’s appreciation from recent lows is eroding returns from unhedged international investments. With analysts mixed on where the currency is heading, opting to hedge foreign currency exposures could provide investors with some peace of mind.