Regulation

Australian fund manager Merricks Capital believes Australian investors could be the beneficiaries of recent changes in loan regulation.

Regulatory measures to curb investor lending appear to be working, with the latest housing finance figures showing a further fall in April.

ASIC deputy chairman Peter Kell has made the case for stronger banning powers, tougher supervision and higher penalties for wrong-doers.

Higher property prices, along with lenders’ changing appetites and regulatory flux in the industry, are driving down the national average application LVR according to fresh research.

The prudential regulator is seeking feedback from the banks on its plans to begin requesting additional data on borrower debt-to-income ratios.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has appointed four new senior executives to its leadership team and created new units, as part of a “broader organisational restructure”.

Genworth Australia has posted mixed results for the three months to 31 March with CEO Georgette Nicholas flagging ongoing pressure in an environment of increased regulation.

Australian banks will be required to limit their exposures to unrelated counterparties to 25 per cent of Tier 1 Capital as APRA seeks to reduce "contagion risk".

The Treasurer has stressed that a housing affordability fix “must involve a scalpel, not a chainsaw” and has looked to the UK housing sector experience as “valuable” for Australia.

Treasurer Scott Morrison has announced the government’s endorsement of APRA’s decision to take on capital requirements in ensuring that the nation’s banks are “unquestionably strong”