| Australian Mortgage Demand Surges Amidst Refinancing Boom Thu, 05 Feb: In July 2025, Australia witnessed a significant uptick in mortgage demand, marking a 6.4% increase compared to the same month in 2024. This surge is primarily driven by a notable rise in refinancing activities, which accounted for 36.2% of total mortgage enquiries during the period. - read more
|
| Australian Business Lending Sees Robust Growth in June 2025 Thu, 05 Feb: In June 2025, Australia's non-financial business lending reached a record $1.14 trillion, reflecting a 9.2% increase compared to the same month in 2024. This growth rate nearly doubles that of housing credit, which expanded by 5.6% year-on-year, highlighting a renewed appetite for corporate borrowing. - read more
|
| Australia's Mobile Wallet Payments Exceed $160 Billion in 2025 Thu, 05 Feb: In the year leading up to July 2025, Australians conducted over $160 billion in mobile wallet payments, marking a substantial shift towards digital banking. The Australian Banking Association's (ABA) 2025 'Bank on It' report reveals that the number of mobile wallet transactions surpassed four billion, outnumbering ATM withdrawals by more than eleven times. - read more
|
| Australian Banks Tighten Trust Lending Policies in Response to Regulatory Oversight Thu, 05 Feb: In a significant shift within Australia's financial sector, major lenders Macquarie Bank and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) have recently implemented stricter policies regarding lending to trusts and companies. These changes are indicative of a broader industry response to regulatory concerns about systemic risks in housing finance. - read more
|
| Japanese Banks Drive Significant Growth in Australian Business Lending Thu, 05 Feb: Australia's business lending landscape has experienced remarkable growth, with the top 10 authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) reaching a combined loan book of $925 billion as of July 2025. Notably, Japanese banking giants Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) have emerged as key contributors to this expansion. - read more
|
| Steady Financial Performance of Australian Major Banks in FY25 Amidst Economic Uncertainty Thu, 05 Feb: Australia's major banks have demonstrated resilience in the face of economic uncertainty, reporting a combined profit after tax of $29.8 billion for the fiscal year 2025. This figure represents a marginal decrease of 0.5% compared to the previous year, indicating stability in the banking sector. - read more
|
| Record-Breaking Occupancy Rates for Australian Caravan Holiday Parks Thu, 05 Feb: Australian caravan holiday parks have reported record-high occupancy rates in December 2025, underscoring the growing appeal of caravanning among Australians. This surge is attributed to successful promotional campaigns and an increasing desire for domestic travel experiences. - read more
|
| Australian Used Car Market Ends 2025 on a Softer Note Thu, 05 Feb: The Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), in collaboration with AutoGrab, has released the December 2025 Automotive Insights Report (AIR), revealing a significant downturn in the used car market as the year concluded. - read more
|
| Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles Gain Momentum as Petrol Car Sales Decline in Australia Thu, 05 Feb: The Australian automotive market is witnessing a significant shift in consumer preferences, with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) experiencing a remarkable surge in sales, while traditional petrol vehicle sales continue to decline. - read more
|
| Marinex Underwriting Sets Sail in Australia's Marine Insurance Market Thu, 05 Feb: Australia's marine insurance landscape has welcomed a new player with the launch of Marinex Underwriting. This agency, backed by global specialty insurance distributor Amwins, is poised to offer tailored solutions to the complex needs of the Australian marine industry. - read more
|
| Australian Marine Industry Surges to $229 Billion Economic Output Thu, 05 Feb: The Australian marine industry has achieved a remarkable economic milestone, reaching an output of $229 billion in 2023. This represents a 19% increase compared to two years prior, as reported by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). The surge is primarily attributed to the resurgence of domestic tourism and the expansion of the natural gas sector. - read more
|
| Yamaha Maintains Leadership in Australian Marine Market Amidst Sea-Doo's Resurgence Thu, 05 Feb: Yamaha has successfully retained its position as Australia's most-searched marine brand heading into the 2025 summer season, capturing 8.4% of search share in the third quarter. This performance, as reported by Retain Media's Q3 2025 Marine Market Brand Consideration Report, reflects a modest 7.6% quarterly decline but remains consistent with its 8.3% result from Q4 2024. - read more
|
| Australian Banks Raise Fixed Home Loan Rates in Anticipation of RBA Decision Wed, 04 Feb: In the lead-up to the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) first monetary policy meeting of 2026, major Australian banks have proactively increased their fixed home loan interest rates. This preemptive move reflects expectations of a potential cash rate hike by the RBA, aiming to curb persistent inflationary pressures. - read more
|
| APRA Imposes New Cap on High Debt-to-Income Home Loans Wed, 04 Feb: The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has announced a significant policy change aimed at enhancing financial stability within the housing market. Effective February 1, 2026, APRA will impose a cap on high debt-to-income (DTI) home loans, limiting banks to issuing no more than 20% of new home loans with DTI ratios of six times or higher. - read more
|
| Australian Mortgage Market Reaches Record High Amidst Surging Property Prices Wed, 04 Feb: In November 2025, Australia's mortgage market achieved a new milestone, with the total value of residential mortgages reaching $2.41 trillion. This record-breaking figure reflects a 0.67% increase from the previous month and a 6.36% rise over the past year, as reported by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). - read more
|
| BIA's 'Go Boating SA' Initiative Aims to Boost Safe Boating Practices Wed, 04 Feb: The Boating Industry Association (BIA) has recently unveiled the 'Go Boating SA' campaign, a strategic initiative designed to promote safe and enjoyable boating experiences across South Australia. This campaign underscores the BIA's commitment to enhancing the state's marine industry and fostering community engagement. - read more
|
| Sydney Boat Show 2026: Bigger and Better at Sydney Olympic Park Wed, 04 Feb: The Sydney Boat Show is set to make a grand return in 2026, with plans to expand its exhibition at Sydney Olympic Park from July 30 to August 2. This development marks a significant evolution for the event, aiming to provide an enhanced experience for boating enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. - read more
|
| BIA and AFTA Unite to Bolster Australia's Boating and Fishing Industries Wed, 04 Feb: In a significant move for Australia's outdoor recreation sector, the Boating Industry Association (BIA) and the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) have formalised an agreement to collaborate more closely. This partnership is designed to benefit their combined membership base and bolster support for boat-based fishing across the nation. - read more
|
| Australian Motorcycle Market Sees Modest Decline in 2025 Wed, 04 Feb: The Australian motorcycle market experienced a slight downturn in 2025, with total sales decreasing by 1.3% compared to the previous year. According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), 92,967 motorcycles and off-highway vehicles were sold throughout the year, reflecting ongoing economic pressures on discretionary spending. - read more
|
| KTM AG Secures €600 Million to Fulfill Debt Obligations Wed, 04 Feb: In a pivotal development for the motorcycle industry, KTM AG has successfully secured €600 million in funding to address its debt obligations, marking a significant milestone in the company's ongoing financial restructuring efforts. This funding ensures KTM's ability to continue operations and reinforces its position in the global motorcycle market. - read more
|
| Stark Future Achieves 77% Revenue Growth and Profitability in 2025 Wed, 04 Feb: Stark Future, the Barcelona-based electric motorcycle manufacturer, has reported a remarkable 77% year-on-year revenue growth, achieving €115 million in revenue for the 2025 financial year. This significant increase underscores the growing demand for electric motorcycles and Stark Future's expanding market presence. - read more
|
| TAL's Health Sense Plus Now Covers Income Protection Policies Wed, 04 Feb: In a significant development for policyholders, TAL has expanded its Health Sense Plus program to encompass income protection (IP) policies. This initiative, effective from August 8, 2025, aims to incentivise proactive health management by offering premium discounts to clients who engage in preventative health checks. - read more
|
| Surge in Mental Health Claims Puts Pressure on Australia's Insurance Industry Wed, 04 Feb: Australia's insurance sector is facing unprecedented challenges as mental health conditions have become the leading cause of total and permanent disability (TPD) claims. Recent data from the Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) reveals that mental health issues now account for nearly one-third of all TPD claims paid out. - read more
|
| Rest Super Faces Class Action Over Alleged Wrongful Deduction of Income Protection Premiums Wed, 04 Feb: Shine Lawyers has initiated class action proceedings in the Federal Court against Rest Superannuation, alleging that the fund wrongfully deducted income protection premiums from members' accounts between December 2008 and June 2019. The lawsuit claims that up to 500,000 Rest members may have been affected by these deductions. - read more
|
| Marine Skippers Insurance Expands to International Waters Wed, 04 Feb: Marine Skippers Insurance has recently unveiled a new international coverage plan tailored for captains navigating vessels to and from Australia. This development is particularly timely, coinciding with preparations for the upcoming Sydney to Hobart yacht race. - read more
|
Author:
Please Note: If this information affects you or is relevant to your circumstances, seek advice from a licensed professional.
