Australian watchdog urges banks to move Indigenous clients into low-fee accounts

(Reuters) -Australia’s corporate regulator on Wednesday asked the country’s banks to disclose data on fees charged to Indigenous consumers after a review found they were not meeting targets for moving First Nations people into low-fee accounts. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) found that many Indigenous consumers are paying up to A$3,000 ($2,007) in…

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French services activity falls for first time since January as demand weakens – PMI

PARIS (Reuters) – Activity in France’s dominant services sector fell in June for the first time since January, a survey showed on Wednesday, as weak demand added to fears the euro zone’s second-biggest economy could have contracted in the second quarter. The HCOB France final purchasing managers index (PMI) for June for the services sector,…

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Japan’s firms offer biggest pay hikes in 30 years, wage growth broadens

By Tetsushi Kajimoto TOKYO (Reuters) -Japanese firms offered the biggest pay hikes in three decades at this year’s negotiations with workers, the country’s largest trade union group said on Wednesday, a development economists say will help revive anaemic consumer demand. A survey conducted by Rengo, Japan’s umbrella trade union group, showed pay hikes first reported…

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Singapore’s fight against inflation still on amid uncertain growth outlook -central bank

By Xinghui Kok SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore’s central bank warned on Wednesday of weak near-term growth for one of Asia’s top financial hubs and said its fight against rising prices was not yet over, even as it lowered its 2023 headline inflation forecast.In an annual review by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Managing Director…

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Federal court rules against Australia’s AMP in class action proceedings, shares tank

(Reuters) – Australia’s AMP Ltd tanked on Wednesday after the country’s federal court ruled against the wealth manager in class action proceedings that challenged the validity of some of the changes to its ‘buyer of last resort’ policy. Shares of the company fell as much 7.5% to their lowest level in over a month. AMP…

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