Australia

Australian Banks Face Class Actions on Fees

By Editors | 18/08/2014

Australian banks are facing open class actions filed by legal firm Maurice Blackburn over late credit card fees worth hundreds of millions of dollars, in what could be one of the country’s biggest class suits ever.

Macquarie to Contact Thousands of Clients Over Poor Advice

By Editors | 15/08/2014

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has ordered Macquarie Group to contact 160,000 clients who may have lost money due to flawed financial advice.

New Zealand Regulator Relaxes Debt Capital Raising Norms

By Editors | 11/08/2014

Commerce Minister Craig Foss announced further steps to simplify and encourage participation in New Zealand’s capital markets, including easing compliance rules for debt issuers.

ASIC Imposes New Conditions for CBA Licensees

By Editors | 10/08/2014

The financial planning arms of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia will be subject to new financial services license conditions, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission said.

New Zealand Regulator Issues First Equity Crowd Funding Licences

By Editors | 06/08/2014

The Financial Markets Authority has issued its first equity crowd funding licences under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. PledgeMe and Snowball Effect are New Zealand’s first licensed providers of this new financial service.

Australian Regulator to Review Broker Dark Pools

By Editors | 30/07/2014

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will conduct reviews of broker dark pools over the next 12 months, as regulators globally investigate alleged abuses in the operation of alternative trading venues.

ASX Seeks Improvements in Operation, Says ASIC

By Editors | 30/07/2014

The Australian Securities Exchange Ltd will explore enhanced procedures around the operation of its futures market and consider listing applications from emerging market issuers as part of improvements the bourse intends to work on together with the country’s securities regulator.

ASX Lowers Fees for Interest Rate Futures, OTC Clearing

By Editors | 25/07/2014

The Australian Securities Exchange Ltd said it will cut fees on interest rate futures and over-the-counter (OTC) clearing businesses for the first time in more than 10 years to increase trading volumes and boost its competitiveness.

Australian Regulator Censures RBS over Interest Rate Manipulation

By Editors | 22/07/2014

Australia’s securities regulator has censured the Royal Bank of Scotland for its role in manipulating Australia’s bank bill swap rate.