3G mobile: advance Australia fair

Published By Datamonitor

Account portability in Australia is one step closer, but major challenges remain

One of the key objectives of the new banking reform launched by the Australian government is to conduct a feasibility study for implementing full account number portability. While this is a positive step for consumers, who will be able to keep their account numbers when switching providers, Datamonitor believes that there are major challenges which need to be addressed.

Published By Datamonitor

Asia-Pacific: liquid assets to grow 6% annually

Published By Datamonitor

Asian hedge funds: false hope

Fund managers in Hong Kong and Singapore are already developing new hedge fund products, as governments plan to liberalize regulations. However, there's little fit between hedge funds and their new target, retail investors. There may soon be a lot of disappointed asset managers across Asia - and a waste of valuable marketing resources.

Published By Datamonitor

Asthma: UK top for diagnosis, US bottom

Published By Datamonitor

AstraZeneca: accelerating in Japan

Published By Datamonitor

Australia: falling profits at major banks reduce chance of rate cuts being passed on to consumers

Major Australian banks ANZ and NAB have issued their interim results for the six months ending in March, revealing falling profits due to the rising cost of bad debts. The six-month profit of the former sank by 43%, while the latter's experienced a drop of 9.4%. These disappointing results make it more likely that the banks will at least partly hold on to any subsequent Reserve Bank rate cut.

Published By Datamonitor

Australia: mortgage defaults increasing

A recent survey of Australian banks has shown that mortgage defaults and home repossessions have been rising recently, prompting a number of relief measures. However, the country's major banks have reported that many borrowers are taking advantage of recent rate cuts by paying more than required on their mortgages, thus limiting the effect of introduced stimulus packages.

Published By Datamonitor

Aventis: pharmas look East for innovation

Published By Datamonitor

Cancer: breast tumors most prevalent in 2001

Published By Datamonitor