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That pushed net profit from the bank's institutional unit up 53% to overtake its retail unit, by dollar value, in the year to September, and helped the Melbourne-listed company grow overall profit 14% to A$7.4 billion ($4.7 billion), just missing a Visible Alpha consensus forecast of A$7.56 billion. But analysts expressed concern about a faster-than-expected narrowing of profit margin from the bank's retail unit, the only one of Australia's so-called big four lenders that has persisted with offering cash handouts to lure mortgage customers looking for a cheaper deal. The logo of the ANZ Bank is seen at Lambton Quay, in Wellington, New Zealand November 10, 2022. ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott denied forgoing margin to grow mortgages faster than the market, and challenged comments from other banks that have said they were intentionally slowing mortgage growth while competition eroded profit. ANZ declared a final dividend of 94 Australian cents per share, up from 74 cents a year ago.

Persons: NIM, Lucy Craymer, Shayne Elliott, we've, Byron Kaye, Rishav Chatterjee, Roushni Nair, Lisa Shumaker, Stephen Coates Organizations: ANZ, Westpac, National Australia Bank, midsession, ANZ Bank, REUTERS, UBS, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Lambton Quay, Wellington , New Zealand, Sydney, Bengaluru

The Sydney-based financial conglomerate has not had a steeper first-half profit drop in more than a decade. The results capped a run of "exceptional conditions" last year in the company's commodity trading and asset management segments, buoyed by energy market volatility and ripe conditions for asset sales, respectively, Chief Financial Officer Alex Harvey told Reuters. Macquarie said the asset management division's income should rebound in the second half to about the A$940 million it reported in the same period last year. The company said fees and commissions at investment banking arm Macquarie Capital were in line with the previous comparable period. Profit fell 28% to A$430 million.

Persons: David Gray, Alex Harvey, Macquarie, Shemara Wikramanayake, Wikramanayake, Barrenjoey, Lewis Jackson, Roushni Nair, Rishav Chatterjee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Macquarie Group Ltd, REUTERS, Macquarie, Reuters, Citi, Investment, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, SYDNEY, Ukraine, North America, Israel, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Lynas plans temporary shutdown of Malaysia ops, shares fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Echha Jain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A small toy figure and mineral imitation are seen in front of the Lynas Rare Earths logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. Shares of the miner closed 1.9% lower, after falling as much as 2.7% to A$6.24 mid-trade, the stock marked its lowest since May 3. It will implement an upgrade to its downstream operations at Lynas Malaysia to increase production of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) to about 10,500 metric tons per annum. The world's largest producer of rare earths outside China also reported a 21.8% drop in its first quarter sales revenue to A$128.1 million ($81.04 million). NdPr production for the quarter came in at 1,526 rare earth oxide tonnes (REOt), compared with 1,045 REOt a year earlier.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lynas, Anwar Ibrahim, Echha Jain, Adwitiya Srivastava, Roushni Nair, Devika Syamnath, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, 10,500tpa, Malaysian, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Lynas Malaysia, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, China, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Lynas announces planned shutdown of Malaysia ops
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A small toy figure and mineral imitation are seen in front of the Lynas Rare Earths logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AX) said on Friday there will be a planned shutdown of all its operations in Malaysia except its mixed rare earth carbonate processing plant in the December quarter. The company also reported a 21.8% fall in first-quarter revenue, hurt by lower product prices and continued accumulation of inventory. The company will implement an upgrade to its downstream operations at Lynas Malaysia to increase production of neodymium-praseodymium to about 10,500 tonnes per annum. ($1 = 1.5808 Australian dollars)Reporting by Echha Jain and Adwitiya Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lynas, Echha Jain, Adwitiya Srivastava, Devika Organizations: REUTERS, Malaysian, Mt, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, China, Bengaluru

☆ Australia's Lynas announces planned shutdown of Malaysia ops, shares fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Echha Jain | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A small toy figure and mineral imitation are seen in front of the Lynas Rare Earths logo in this illustration taken November 19, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Lynas to conduct planned shutdown of Malaysia opsCo to upgrade NdPr production in Malaysia to 10,500tpaQtrly sales revenue slips 21.8%Shares fall as much as 2.7%Oct 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AX) said on Friday it planned to shut all operations in Malaysia except a mixed rare earth carbonate processing plant in the December quarter, with minimal volumes of the raw material processed during the shutdown. Shares of the miner fell as much as 2.7% to A$6.24 by 0045 GMT, the lowest since May 3. It will implement an upgrade to its downstream operations at Lynas Malaysia to increase production of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) to about 10,500 tonnes per annum. NdPr production for the quarter came in at 1,526 rare earth oxide tonnes (REOt), compared with 1,045 REOt a year earlier.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lynas, Anwar Ibrahim, Henry Jennings, Echha Jain, Adwitiya Srivastava, Devika Syamnath, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Co, 10,500tpa, Malaysian, Marcustoday, Thomson Locations: Malaysia, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, China, Bengaluru

☆ Shares drop as 'higher-for-longer' rate outlook rattles investors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Amanda Cooper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] The German share price index DAX graph is pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt, Germany, September 22, 2023. The MSCI All-World index (.MIWD00000PUS), which is heading for its worst monthly performance this year, with a 3.6% drop, was down 0.2% on the day. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields have nudged at 4.5% for the first time since October 2007, and on Monday were up 5 basis points at 4.491%, set for their largest monthly rise in a year, reflecting investor unease over the economic outlook. The dollar index got a boost from the rise in Treasury yields, rising 0.1% on the day. Brent crude futures rose 0.2% to $93.48 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 0.1% to $90.16.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Frederik Ducrozet, Ducrozet, Powell, Evergrande, Andrew Lilley, Kazuo Ueda, Stella Qiu, Himani Sarkar, Jacqueline Wong, Miral Fahmy, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Global, European Central Bank, Bank of England, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Pictet Wealth Management, Nasdaq, Barrenjoey, Bank of Japan, Brent, West Texas, Thomson Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, U.S, Europe, CHINA

☆ Asian shares slip after brutal central bank week, yen in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A passerby walks past an electric monitor displaying various countries' stock price index outside a bank in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2023. S&P 500 futures , however, rose 0.3% while Nasdaq futures gained 0.4%, after Hollywood's writers union reached a preliminary labor agreement with major studios. In Asia, MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) dropped 0.5%, edging back to a 10-month low plumbed just last week. U.S. central bank officials will be out in force this week, starting with Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari on Monday. Brent crude futures rose 0.6% to $93.79 per barrel.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, HSI, Louis Kuijs, Neel Kashkari, Andrew Lilley, Stella Qiu, Himani Sarkar, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Japan, Nasdaq, Japan's Nikkei, Hengda, Estate Group Co, U.S, Minneapolis, European Central Bank, Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Europe SYDNEY, China, U.S, Europe, Asia, Pacific, firming, U.S . Federal

☆ Asian shares fall after brutal central bank week, yen under spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A passerby walks past an electric monitor displaying various countries' stock price index outside a bank in Tokyo, Japan, March 22, 2023. The yen was jittery near the closely watched 150 per dollar level amid intervention fears, after the Bank of Japan made no change to its dovish monetary policy. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) dropped 0.6%, edging closer to a ten-month low plumbed just last week. Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan, expects good news from U.S. and European inflation results this week, which should show low core inflation readings. The yen last traded at 148.41 per dollar, after hitting a fresh 10-month low of 148.49 earlier in the day.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Hong, HSI, Louis Kuijs, Andrew Lilley, Bruce Kasman, Stella Qiu, Sonali Paul, Himani Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Japan, Japan's Nikkei, U.S, JPMorgan, U.S ., Brent, . West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, U.S, Europe, Asia, Pacific, U.S . Federal

A sign at the approach road leads to Albemarle's lithium evaporation ponds at its facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S., January 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) shares shot 11.5% higher after the lithium developer's board on Monday backed a refreshed A$6.6 billion ($4.26 billion) bid from Albemarle Corp (ALB.N), the world's biggest lithium producer. The news prompted Liontown shares to shoot up 11.5% to A$2.92, the highest since July 14. Liontown controls two major lithium deposits in Western Australia, including its flagship Kathleen Valley project slated for first production in mid-2024, which is among the world's largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium deposits. Albemarle's latest offer for Liontown was its fourth, having also proposed A$2.20 per share on Oct. 20 last year and A$2.35 per share earlier in March before its rejected A$2.50 a share offer was made public.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Liontown, Albemarle, Kathleen, Greenhill, Scott Murdoch, Poonam, Jamie Freed, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Albemarle Corp, Australia, Ford Motor, LG, Co, UBS, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Australian, Chile, Western Australia, South, Albemarle, Sydney

☆ Asia stocks drop to month low as US CPI fails to enthuse
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The yen touched a six-week low of 144.89 per dollar in early trade, though volumes were thinned owing to a public holiday in Japan. Its stock markets were closed and Treasuries went untraded in the Asia session. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) fell 0.7% with stocks in Hong Kong and China the biggest drag. Headline U.S. CPI was 0.2% last month, the same as a month earlier, and the details were encouraging - with core goods inflation slowing down and only rents proving stubbornly sticky. DOLLAR GAINSIn foreign exchange markets, choppy trade in the wake of the inflation data left the dollar on course for a weekly gain.

Persons: Issei Kato, Treasuries, Mary Daly, Andrew Lilley, Philip Lowe, Nozomu Ogawa, Sally Auld, JB, There's, HSI, Tom Westbrook, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: REUTERS, SYDNEY, Headline U.S, CPI, San Francisco Fed, Yahoo Finance, Daiwa, Markets, HK, Chevron, Brent, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Hong Kong, China, Sydney, New York, Australia

☆ Asia stocks slip as US CPI fails to enthuse; dollar up
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Passersby are reflected on an electric stock quotation board outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan April 18, 2023. The yen touched a six-week low of 144.89 per dollar in early trade on Friday, though volumes were thinned owing to a public holiday in Japan. Its stock markets were closed and Treasuries went untraded in the Asia session. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) edged 0.2% lower and headed for a 1% weekly loss. In stock markets, Chinese property stocks were taking a fresh beating on giant developer Country Garden (2007.HK), which is struggling with its debts, forecasting a $7.6 billion net loss in the first half.

Persons: Issei Kato, Treasuries, Mary Daly, Andrew Lilley, Sally Auld, JB, Tom Westbrook, Muralikumar Organizations: REUTERS, U.S ., Headline U.S, CPI, San Francisco Fed, Yahoo Finance, U.S . Treasury, HK, Star Entertainment, Chevron, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Asia, Pacific, Sydney, New York, Hong Kong, Alibaba, HK, New South Wales, Woodside, WDS.AX

Prices of iron ore, from which Rio Tinto derives around 70% of its profits, eased over the second quarter on concerns over China's debt-ridden property sector, but could improve after Beijing on Tuesday pledged to roll out policies to boost growth. "China's economic recovery has fallen short of initial market expectations, as the property market downturn continues to weigh on the economy and consumers remain cautious despite monetary policy easing," Rio Tinto said in its quarterly report. Rio Q2 Shipments easeRio downgraded its expectations for refined copper production, alumina production, and output at its Canadian iron ore operations and warned of rising costs. "Production downgrades during the quarter highlight that we still have much more to do," Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said in the report. Wildfires in Northern Quebec impacted Canadian iron ore production, it said.

Persons: Rio, Glyn Lawcock, Jakob Stausholm, Melanie Burton, Navya Mittal, Rishav Chatterjee, Shounak Dasgupta, Sonali Paul Organizations: Rio Tinto, Alpha, Tinto Chief, Thomson Locations: MELBOURNE, Rio, Beijing, Barrenjoey, Sydney, Utah, Northern Quebec, Rincon, Argentina, Melbourne, Bengaluru

☆ Analyst explains what's behind nickel's volatility
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAnalyst explains what's behind nickel's volatilityDaniel Morgan, mining and metals research analyst at Barrenjoey, explains why nickel is a "devilish commodity to unpack."

Persons: Daniel Morgan

May 28 (Reuters) - Global investors are gaming out how a tentative deal to raise the United States debt ceiling could ripple through markets, as lawmakers strive to pass the agreement through Congress before a June 5 deadline. U.S. five-year credit default swaps narrowed, meaning that the cost of insuring against exposure to a U.S. debt default fell. “The debt ceiling agreement is only the first step in saving the government from the brink of illiquidity.”The deal suspends the debt ceiling until January 2025 in exchange for caps on spending and cuts in government programs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday set a deadline for raising the federal debt limit, saying the government would default if Congress does not increase the debt ceiling by June 5. Optimism that a debt ceiling deal was near and hefty gains in AI-related stocks helped the S&P 500 (.SPX) close at its highest level since August 2022 on Friday.

“The debt ceiling agreement is only the first step in saving the government from the brink of illiquidity.”The deal suspends the debt ceiling until January 2025 in exchange for caps on spending and cuts in government programs. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Friday set a deadline for raising the federal debt limit, saying the government would default if Congress does not increase the debt ceiling by June 5. Optimism that a debt ceiling deal was near and hefty gains in AI-related stocks helped the S&P 500 (.SPX) close at its highest level since August 2022 on Friday. S&P Global Ratings stripped the United States of its coveted top rating over a debt ceiling showdown in 2011, a few days after a last-minute agreement the agency at the time said did not stabilize "medium-term debt dynamics." S&P Global Ratings, Fitch and Moody's did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Kirin has offered A$95 cash per Blackmores share, a 23.7% premium to the stock's last close, and a tad higher than its 22.4% jump in morning trade. Before the Kirin deal, its shares had been trading at one-third of their value at the height of the daigou craze in 2016. The board of Blackmores has unanimously recommended shareholders support the deal, with top shareholder and former chairman Marcus Blackmore also agreeing to vote in favour. Blackmores' share price rose as much as 22.4% to A$94, its highest since December 2021. Blackmores shareholders will be able to vote on the offer at a shareholder meeting in July and the companies expect the deal to close in early August.

Listed miners with lithium projects in South America suffered, however, on concerns other governments may follow Chile's lead. Elsewhere in Asia, lithium prices stabilised on an improved demand outlook, and Japan acted to shore up its EV minerals supply by announcing a swathe of industry subsidies. Bucking the regional trend were Australian-listed miners with projects in South America's lithium triangle which spans Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, on concerns other governments may follow Chile's footsteps. Shares in miners with Argentine projects fell. Lithium Power International, (LPI.AX) whose Maricunga brine project is Chile's largest permitted, proposed project welcomed the new policy which it said would "positively transform" Chile's lithium industry.

Liontown controls two major lithium deposits in Western Australia, including its flagship Kathleen Valley project slated for first production in mid-2024, which is among the world's largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium deposits. North Carolina-based Albemarle is the world's biggest lithium producer with major facilities in Chile, China and Western Australia where it holds stakes in two mines and is building a lithium hydroxide processing plant near Perth. Albemarle had offered A$2.50 per share after two previous offers, Liontown said in an exchange filing. Albemarle said its "compelling" bid offered a material premium to Liontown shareholders who would benefit from its chemical conversion abilities and existing links with Liontown's customers. Liontown also said RT Lithium Ltd, a subsidiary of Albemarle, had built a near 2.2% stake through on-market purchases.

☆ Asia shares bounce gingerly as bank fears linger
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Tom Westbrook | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan (.MIAPJ0000PUS) rose 0.4%. Japanese markets were closed for a holiday, which left Treasuries untraded in Asia and lightened currency trade. S&P 500 futures were flat and European futures rose 0.5%. The tense calm follows a Swiss government-backed buyout of Credit Suisse by UBS that seems, for now, to have cauterised concerns over European financial stability. The broader path for rates, meanwhile, is set to become clearer later in the week when the Fed and Bank of England set policy levels.

[1/2] Customers wait in line outside a branch of the Silicon Valley Bank in Wellesley, Massachusetts, U.S., March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Brian SnyderMarch 14 (Reuters) - Silicon Valley Bank's collapse continued to pound global bank stocks on Tuesday as investors fretted over the financial health of some lenders, despite assurances from U.S. President Joe Biden and other policymakers. The European banks index (.SX7P) fell 0.6% after posting its biggest percentage loss in more than a year on Monday. "Bank runs have started (and) interbank markets have become stressed," said Damien Boey, chief equity strategist at Sydney-based investment bank Barrenjoey. The prospect of higher interest rates had been "the reason investors have been really excited about Japan bank stocks", Ikeda added.

"Bank runs have started (and) interbank markets have become stressed," said Damien Boey, chief equity strategist at Sydney-based investment bank Barrenjoey. A furious race to reprice interest rate expectations also buffeted markets as investors bet the Federal Reserve will be reluctant to hike next week. Traders currently see a 50% chance of no rate hike at that meeting, with rate cuts priced in for the second half of the year. The prospect of higher interest rates had been "the reason investors have been really excited about Japan bank stocks." After marathon weekend talks, HSBC HSBA.L said it was buying the British arm of SVB for one pound ($1.21).

☆ SVB contagion fears hammer banks, roil markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Tokyo Stock Exchange banks index (.IBNKS.T) fell more than 7%, setting it on course for its steepest drop in nearly six months. Banks shares in Singapore and Australia fell. Heavy selling hit U.S. regional bank stocks overnight and traders raced away from bets on U.S. rate hikes, reckoning the instability would turn policymakers cautious. "Bank runs have started (and) interbank markets have become stressed," said Damien Boey, chief equity strategist at Sydney-based investment bank Barrenjoey. "Bank stocks had run up (when) it was thought that monetary policy might normalise a bit," said Jamie Halse, who manages a Japan-focused fund at Platinum Asset Management in Sydney.

☆ Bank slide deepens as SVB contagion fear rattles markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Tokyo Stock Exchange banks index (.IBNKS.T) fell more than 5%, setting it on course for its steepest drop in nearly six months. Banks shares in Singapore and Australia fell. Heavy selling hit U.S. regional bank stocks overnight and traders raced away from bets on U.S. rate hikes, reckoning the instability would turn policymakers cautious. "Bank runs have started (and) interbank markets have become stressed," said Damien Boey, chief equity strategist at Sydney-based investment bank Barrenjoey. "Bank stocks had run up (when) it was thought that monetary policy might normalise a bit," said Jamie Halse, who manages a Japan-focused fund at Platinum Asset Management in Sydney.

☆ Japanese banks slide as SVB contagion fear rattles markets
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Bank runs have started (and) interbank markets have become stressed," said Damien Boey, chief equity strategist at Sydney-based investment bank Barrenjoey. "Fear has started to feed on itself, and higher uncertainty by itself has triggered its own de-leveraging and de-risking dynamics." Overnight the VIX (.VIX) volatility index, nicknamed Wall Street's "fear gauge", shot higher and other indicators of market stress showed early signs of strain. In Tokyo, Resona Holdings (8308.T) led losses with a 9% slide, followed by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (8306.T), down 8%. U.S. inflation data due later in the day is likely to inject more volatility, even if investors see the Fed prioritising financial stability.

Australia's second largest airline is in talks with banks including Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and UBS (UBSG.S) about the loan, said the sources, although no decision has been made yet and the size of the debt has not been finalised. The sources did not wish to be identified as the discussions were private. The airline's owner Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs declined to comment. Bain said in January it would explore re-listing Virgin, which it bought for A$3.5 billion ($2.45 billion) including liabilities in 2020 after it was placed in voluntary administration, the closest Australian equivalent to Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It hired Goldman, UBS and Barrenjoey last month as lead managers for the potential initial public offering (IPO).

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