Business

ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft said upcoming guidelines aimed to preserve the independence of analyst research.

ASIC to strengthen 'Chinese walls'

The corporate regulator is pushing investment banks and stockbrokers to strengthen their handling of conflicts of interest and inside information when producing equity research for investors.

Westpac to offload up to $645m in BTIM shares

Westpac will see a small improvement in its capital position by selling down its stake in BTIM.

Westpac is selling its remaining stake in fund manager BT Investment Management, offloading up to $645 million worth of stock to institutional investors and signalling it intends to ultimately sell all shares it holds in the business.

Bank rout wipes $50 billion in May

Banks have led sharemarket falls, with the financial sector down 8.69 per cent since the start of May.

Some $50 billion has been wiped off the combined market value of Australia's major banks since their highs at the start of this month, as investors eye a more challenging outlook for the big four.

Tensions rising over mortgage broker commissions

There are predictions banks may cut commissions to mortgage brokers, who write more than half of all new home loans.

One of the country's biggest mortgage brokers is asking regulators to monitor any moves by banks to cut their commissions, amid speculation these payments could be chopped as banks try to offset the budget's tax hit.

Commonwealth Bank runs ad against bank levy

The banks say they will have to pass the cost of the levy on to customers or shareholders.

The Commonwealth Bank appears to be testing the waters for an advertising campaign against the federal government's proposed bank levy, by paying to spread its chief executive's criticism of the new tax on social media.

Tarocash owner sold to South African giant

Tarocash's owner has been sold.

The owner of Tarocash, yd.,✓ Rockwear and other apparel chains will be sold to a South African retailer in a deal that values the Australian company at $302.5 million.

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