News Archive for February 2016

Recent research from Allianz Global Assistance has shown that 90% of Aussies consider travel insurance non-essential to their holiday plans and could be heading overseas unprotected.

A US-based economist and founder of an investment research service has told 60 Minutes he’ll probably be betting on an Australian mortgage bubble burst.

Gender equality is a closer goal than it might have been decades ago, but remains a hot topic with divergent statistics in areas like education, work, health and lifestyle, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

With South East Queensland set for electricity price deregulation from July 1, some consumer experts are warning residents that this could result in higher Qld power bills.

AMEX have announced cardholders will soon be able to make payments using their Samsung smartphones.

If you’re getting in on National Drink Wine day today, then The University of Iowa has some good news for you. Research conducted by the University found moderate drinkers aged better than both non-drinkers and heavier drinkers.

A Sydney-based entrepreneur has come up with a plan that would enable Australians to set up a virtual shop to trade surplus electricity with other households, small businesses and community groups in their grid, reported ABC News Online.

Granny flat building is on the rise according to data from the NSW state planning department, which revealed that development applications for sub dwellings grew 20% to 3,640 between 2014 to 2015.

Recent data released by The Australia Institute has revealed that young Australians aren’t seeing the benefits of three of the most expensive tax concessions, on negative gearing, capital gains and superannuation.

According to recent figures by the RBA, Aussies are facing a post-Christmas credit card bill of $52.06 billion, bringing the average credit card balance to $4,365.

Recent research from Oxfam Australia has shown that despite increasing pressure, the big four banks have not addressed the problem of unethical practices like land grabs, and that Aussie customers have had enough.

Love is in the air as we approach Valentine’s Day, but recent studies have shown that Aussies prefer a frugal approach to the romantic holiday, over lavish gestures of affection.

A government media operation has warned mobile banking users of a “persistent and sophisticated SMS phishing campaign” underway with serious security consequences.

The Australian government has announced a $250 million program to promote the construction of up to 1000 energy efficient houses for low-income earners speaking at the World Government Summit in Dubai in the UAE.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia has recently improved its performance across areas including company profits, operating income, capital position and customer deposits.

An insurance body is concerned Australians will spend money where it doesn’t count this Valentine’s Day instead of taking out adequate insurance.

Mobile wallets which allow you to make purchases under $100 with the tap of your smartphone have been around for a while from providers like CommBank, Westpac and Optus. Now one of Australia’s biggest banks ANZ has joined the smartphone payment revolution.

For those who prefer to take a hands-on approach to super, this year’s Mozo Experts Choice SMSF Awards has revealed that online lenders are the way to go.

There’s been a longstanding debate in the property world - to buy or rent. Recent research from CoreLogic RP Data might make the latter more appealing, as growth in the rental market has declined over the past twelve months in the cities of Darwin (-13.40%), Perth (-8.6%), Brisbane (-0.7%) and Adelaide (-0.4%).

Sydney travellers are celebrating Chinese New Year with a twist this year, thanks to Tourism Australia’s Giga Selfie promotion which started yesterday.

As the Government proposes a new tax reform package, wealthy investors who cash in on negative gearing concessions may be in its sights, skynews.com.au reported.

Customer satisfaction with three of the big four banks is on the rise, with CommBank showing the largest improvement of 0.7%, putting its satisfaction level at 82.4%, according to new research from Roy Morgan.

In an effort to push the electricity costs down in Queensland, a draft report by the Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC) recommends that the State Government consider an early exit of the solar bonus scheme, to cut back on power rebates for seniors and further deregulate electricity prices in Southeast Queensland.

Following the Christmas season, Aussie travellers are being warned to be prepared and stay vigilant this summer. According to InsureandGo, mobile phones and cameras top the list of personal valuables most likely to be lost or stolen whilst overseas, both of which are valuables commonly taken abroad by Aussies.

Do you still keep your rainy day fund in a jar under the bed? You could be missing out on tonnes of perks and some great returns on your money by not parking it in a competitive savings account.

Qantas Frequent Flyer and Aquire members can now sign up to a new rewards program and earn points on selected Vodafone plans.

The RBA has met for the first time in 2016 amid less than optimal global conditions, announcing that the official cash rate will remain unchanged at 2% for the ninth month in a row.

I’ll admit it, I’m a big spender. I regularly splash out on fashion threads (especially during sale season), dinners out, weekends away and overseas trips. But all this spending has got me thinking, surely I’m not the only person in Australia with a spending problem?

In a trend that has emerged since the end of last year, January 2016 saw Australian home loan lenders continue to reduce the rate of investor premiums.