Commonwealth Bank, one of Australia’s four major banks announced better-than expected earnings for the half-year to December 31 last month. As a result the bank may increase dividend payments this year to A$3.93 per share according to a news report. Trading updates from National Australia Bank Limited and Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Limited have signaled that …

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National Australia Bank Limited, one of Australia’s largest banks has announced a stock split on its ADR. From the announcement by the depository bank: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“DBTCA”), as Depositary, will change the ratio on National Australia Bank Limited American Depositary Receipt (“ADR”) program. The ratio will change from 1 ADS representing 1 ordinary …

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Australian bank stocks are indeed in bubble territory according to an analyst and an investment industry executive. An article in the Australian Financial Review last week quoted Emilio Gonzalez, chief executive of BT Investment Management as saying that Australian banks may face corrections due to soaring asset prices. Here is an UBS analyst’s take on Aussie …

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The Australian stock market has performed well so far this year. The benchmark S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index is up 5.77% on a price basis and 9.67% on a total return basis YTD. Due to the fall in commodity prices the index has not regained the level reached before the global financial crisis. However the long-term return …

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The nine Australian companies that appear in the Fortune Global 500 list are shown below: Source: Fortune Global 500, Fortune Four of the largest banks in Australian are in the list. Related ETFs: iShares MSCI Australia Index (EWA) Disclosure: No Positions