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☆ Bearish bets on Asian FX return on renewed woes over Fed rate hikes - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Tejaswi Marthi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] A Singapore dollar note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017. However, recent comments from the Fed about hiking rates for longer dampened sentiment. They turned bearish on the Thai baht , Asia's best-performing currency this year, the Singapore dollar and the Malaysian ringgit for the first time in three months. The poll uses estimates of net long or short positions on a scale of minus 3 to plus 3. The survey findings are provided below (positions in U.S. dollar versus each currency):Reporting by Tejaswi Marthi in BengaluruOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australian banking system cushioned for imminent climate change-related risks - regulator
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 30 (Reuters) - Potential economic downturns caused by climate change could pose risks to the loan books of Australia's top five banks without resulting in any severe stress to the system and the economy, a risk study conducted by the country's banking regulator showed. With global focus sharply pivoting towards climate change, banks have come under increased scrutiny for their ties with fossil fuel projects, prompting them to set goals to cut emissions and raise investments in clean energy projects. These banks have "predicted they would adjust their risk appetite and lending practices, such as cutting back on high loan-to-valuation lending and reducing exposure to higher risk regions and industries", the regulator said. APRA will now consider how the assessment could be applied to other regulated industries and climate-related challenges, it said. ($1 = 1.4948 Australian dollars)Reporting by Sameer Manekar and Tejaswi Marthi in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V and Subhranshu SahuOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Australian regulator begins civil lawsuit against Star Entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 30 (Reuters) - Star Entertainment Group (SGR.AX) said Australia's financial crimes regulator has begun a civil lawsuit against it over allegations of failure to comply with disclosure norms in relation to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing rules. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) will commence civil penalty proceedings against two of Star's units, The Star Pty and The Star Entertainment Queensland Ltd, the casino operator said on Wednesday. Star, however, said AUSTRAC did not specify the damages it was seeking from the said lawsuit. Star's shares have dropped 28.8% in a year marked with investigations and scrutiny of its operations over its alleged failure to prevent money laundering and criminal activity. Reporting by Tejaswi Marthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra EluriOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Australia's fourth-largest bank also said it would reduce exposure to its largest carbon-emitting customers that do not improve their emission transition plans by 2025. ANZ also disclosed that it would lower its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2025 and 90% by 2030. "Our exposure to thermal coal will continue to decline in line with our existing commitments, which includes no longer onboarding any new business customers with material thermal coal exposures, or directly financing new thermal coal mines or power plants," ANZ said. In July, Westpac (WBC.AX) unveiled plans to reduce its lending to coal, oil and gas companies by nearly a quarter by 2030 to slash emissions. read more($1 = A$1.4786)Reporting by Tejaswi Marthi and Jaskiran Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Uttaresh.VOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ex-Tesla Australia director pleads guilty to insider trading
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 16 (Reuters) - A former director of Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) Australian unit pleaded guilty to two counts of insider trading based on a supply deal the carmaker signed with Piedmont Lithium (PLL.O) in 2020, the country's corporate watchdog said on Wednesday. The ASIC said Schlosser then sold his Piedmont shares for a profit of roughly $28,883 once the agreement became public and the stock price rose. Schlosser, who plead guilty at a court in Sydney, also communicated information about the deal to a friend, knowing that his friend would be likely to acquire Piedmont shares, the ASIC said. Tesla and Piedmont Lithium did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Tejaswi Marthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Savio D'SouzaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Qantas 'disappointed' at regulator delaying Alliance Aviation deal verdict
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 28 (Reuters) - Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN.AX) on Friday "expressed disappointment" at the country's competition regulator delaying its decision on the carrier's $394 million buy of Alliance Aviation Services (AQZ.AX). In May, Qantas said it was buying the remaining 80% stake in charter flights operator Alliance Aviation Services for A$610.8 million ($394.03 million). read moreAlliance Aviation's charter alliance agreement with Virgin Australia also hangs in the balance, with the ACCC proposing to deny approval for the firms to extend their agreement. If Qantas succeeds in buying Alliance Aviation, the charter alliance deal extension is even less likely to go through. Alliance Aviation's shares last traded at A$3.23, a 32% discount to Qantas' offer price of A$4.75.

☆ Macquarie sees more commodities unit strength after profit jumps
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 28 (Reuters) - Australia's Macquarie (MQG.AX) on Friday forecast higher short-term income from its commodities trading business, after the unit tapped volatile oil and gas prices to boost profit in the first half. Financial conglomerates such as Macquarie have benefited from sharp volatility and supply chain disruptions in commodities markets that began in 2020 and increased this year with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. read moreThe Sydney-based firm's Commodities and Global Markets (CGM) segment delivered a net profit contribution of about A$2 billion, 15% higher than last year, thanks to more clients hedging against volatile energy markets. The financial conglomerate's attributable profit for the six months to September was A$2.31 billion ($1.49 billion), compared with A$2.04 billion reported a year ago and a Refinitiv IBES estimate of A$2.19 billion. Macquarie also warned that transaction activity at the segment would be substantially lower in the short-term, compared with record levels seen last year.

☆ Australian regulator appeals dismissal of petition against CBA, unit by court
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 26 (Reuters) - Australia's corporate regulator said it had appealed the Federal Court's decision to dismiss its petition against the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA.AX) and its pension unit on allegations of improperly collecting commissions. Last month, the Australian Federal Court dismissed a petition by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that accused the country's top lender and Colonial First State of a scheme, where the bank took commission to sell products for its unit from 2013 to 2019, a banned practice known as conflicted remuneration. read more"We have appealed this decision because we are concerned that it will limit the operation of conflicted remuneration laws introduced in 2012," ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said in a statement on Wednesday. Reporting by Tejaswi Marthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

The break above the key milestone heightens pressure for Tokyo to step into the currency market again to rein in the yen's relentless decline, which is adding to the country's already swelling import bill. "We cannot tolerate excessive, rapid currency market moves driven by speculative action," Suzuki said. The BOJ, for its part, ramped up efforts to defend its 0% bond yield cap earlier on Thursday with offers of emergency bond buying. The Ministry of Finance's dollar-selling, yen-buying intervention last month was the first time authorities had acted in the markets to prop up the yen since 1998. The yen's tumble below 150 against the dollar on Thursday took it to its weakest level since August 1990, keeping investors on high alert to the possibility of another Japanese intervention in the currency market.

☆ Australia's No. 1 health insurer says hacker stole patient details
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

SYDNEY, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Australia's biggest health insurer said on Thursday a criminal had apparently stolen customers' medical information as part of a massive breach of data, fuelling concern about a wave of high-profile cyber attacks. The company did not say how many of its 4 million customers were likely to have been affected but warned the number was likely to rise. 2 telco Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (STEL.SI), revealed a month ago that data of up to 10 million customers may have been stolen. read moreUntil now, most public commentary has focused on the risk that hackers would use stolen data to access bank accounts. Larger Optus rival Telstra Corp Ltd (TLS.AX) has disclosed a small breach of employee data, while No.

☆ Australia's Medibank says it has been contacted by hackers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Oct 20 (Reuters) - Australia's Medibank Private Ltd (MPL.AX) said on Thursday it was contacted by a criminal group claiming to have stolen data, including names and phone numbers, among other details, of customers in light of the cyber attack it suffered a week ago. The health insurer said that the cyber incident was now being investigated by the Australian Federal Police. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Tejaswi Marthi in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.VOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Cyber attack on Australia's Optus puts addresses, passport info at risk
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Timothy Aeppel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterA woman uses her mobile phone as she walks past in front of an Optus shop in Sydney, Australia, February 8, 2018. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterOptus said it immediately shut down the attack after discovering it, and that payment details and account passwords had not been compromised. The company's services, including mobile and home internet, are not affected, and messages and voice calls have not been compromised, it said. "Optus services remain safe to use and operate as per normal," the company said in a statement, adding that it has notified the Australian Federal police and other key regulators regarding the breach. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Tejaswi Marthi in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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