AMP AXA merger takes effect

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The merger of AMP Limited (AMP) and AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (AXA APH) Australian and New Zealand businesses has been implemented today. AXA APH is now wholly owned by... Read more continue reading

Investor Signposts: Week Beginning April 3 2011

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The big picture The Reserve Bank Board meets again on Tuesday to decide interest rate settings. But this month – as was the case last month – there is no... Read more continue reading

House prices slide to near 2-year lows

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House Prices Capital city home prices were unchanged in seasonally adjusted terms in February after a 1.5 per cent slide in the prior month according to the RP Data-Rismark Hedonic... Read more continue reading

Record migration slump dampens population growth

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Population Australia’s population grew by 345,500 people over the year to September. Population growth increased by 1.57 per cent over the past year – the weakest growth rate in four... Read more continue reading

SPAA says raise the caps or exclude non-concessional contributions

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If the annual $50,000 cap can’t be raised for everyone aged 50+, then exclude non-concessional contributions from the mooted $500,000 threshold super balance. The Self Managed Super Fund Professionals Association... Read more continue reading

AMP Capital Investors acquires first Paris property asset

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AMP Capital’s Global Direct Property Fund (GDPF) has acquired a high quality seven-storey office building in L’avenue de Wagram, one of the premier precincts in the Paris CBD region, for... Read more continue reading

Aussie equities underperform global peers

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Sharemarket Insights The Australian sharemarket has significantly underperformed other major overseas markets this financial year. Some of the factors that have led to this under-performance include higher domestic interest rates,... Read more continue reading

$US breaking down, $A breaking higher

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Key points The $A is continuing to push further above parity against the $US, reaching a 29 year high. This reflects a combination of strong commodity prices, $US weakness and... Read more continue reading

Regulators should not judge super funds on size alone, Russell warns

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Recommends trustees use comprehensive test to meet scale requirements Know your fund first – evaluate before reacting to scale concerns Russell Investments is calling on trustees and industry regulators to... Read more continue reading

Synchron Appoints Michael Harrison Independent Chair

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Respected business strategist, Michael Harrison has been appointed Independent Chair of financial advice business, Synchron, effective April 1, 2011. Mr Harrison, who has worked closely with Synchron since 2007 as... Read more continue reading