Moody's warns profits of big four Australian banks under pressure

By Sophia Rodrigues

Published On 25 Nov 2019 , 03:35 PM

Profitability of the big four Australian banks is under pressures from low interest rates amid weak credit growth and intense competition, as well as structural changes that will erode their competitive advantages, Moody's Investors Service said a in report Monday. Moody's notes banks' net interest margins narrowed only slightly in the last fiscal year (ending September 2019) because RBA easing started only in June while wholesale funding costs declined before that. These benefits will fade in 2020 because similar reduction in wholesale funding costs is unlikely, while lower lending rate will have a fuller impact over the course of the year. Apart from this, banks' profit growth could come under pressure from possible further fines for breaches of regulations and top up provisions for customer remediation. Other headwinds for the big banks include intense competion for lending, regulatory changes which could make retail banking a much lower return business, increased competition due to lower entry barriers to the banking sector and technology, the report says.

LATEST SNIPPETS

Headlines from the RBNZ’s November MPS on FLP:

Headlines from the RBNZ’s November MPS on FLP:

-Plan to implement Funding for Lending Programme in ea...

Published on : 11 Nov 2020 , 12:09 PM
RBA buying semis in March 2025 to May 2028 maturity

The RBA is buying A$1.0 billion semis today under the A$100 billion bond-buying program. 

The purchase...

Published on : 11 Nov 2020 , 11:32 AM
Results of RBA's Bond-buying Auction Monday

Results of the RBA's bond-buying auction Monday, consisting of A$1.5 billion under 3-year yield target and A$2.0...

Published on : 09 Nov 2020 , 03:54 PM
RBA buying total A$3.5B under 3-yr target, QE

The RBA is buying A$3.5 billion of government bonds today, with A$1.5 billion as part of its 3-year yield target, and...

Published on : 09 Nov 2020 , 11:33 AM
Headline from RBA Nov Statement on MonPol

RBA Not Contemplating Further Reduction In Interest Rates
RBA: Focus Will Be QE Program, Prepared To Buy More...

Published on : 06 Nov 2020 , 11:34 AM
RBA buying A$2B of Nov 2028-May 2032 at 1st QE

The RBA is buying A$2 billion of November 2028 to May 2032 government bonds (excluding December 2030 bonds) as p...

Published on : 05 Nov 2020 , 11:21 AM
RBA re-opening media lockups?

It appears the RBA's media lock-ups will restart from Friday when the Statement on Monetary Policy will be publis...

Published on : 04 Nov 2020 , 04:16 PM
Headlines from RBA Lowe's Speech Tuesday

RBA Lowe: No Change in View Little To Be Gained from Negative Policy Rate
RBA Lowe: Negative Policy Rate Extra...

Published on : 03 Nov 2020 , 04:06 PM
More Headlines from RBA Policy

Any bond-buying to support 3-yr target would be in addition to A$100B QE

Not expecting to raise cash rate f...

Published on : 03 Nov 2020 , 02:35 PM
Headline from RBA's November MonPol Decision

From the RBA's November Monetary Policy Decision statement:

-Cuts cash rate target to 0.1% from 0.25% Published on : 03 Nov 2020 , 02:31 PM