Markets have thus far largely brushed off deepening geopolitical fractures around the world, with stocks rallying and currencies and bonds little budged following the U.S. intervention in Also on traders' radar, China on ‌Tuesday banned exports ‌of dual-use items to Japan that can be used for military purposes, marking Beijing's latest move in reaction to an early November remark by ‌Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan. "I think there is still a lot of uncertainty as to whether the regime ...

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price has seen plenty of ups and downs over the last 12 months. It’s now time to consider if the ASX bank share is a good buy or not.What makes the ASX bank share appealing?The biggest bank in Australia is one of the highest-quality banks in the world. It’s an impressive operation with its national branch network, its ability to reach customers, and its consistent dividend.While it’s usually priced more expensively than ASX bank share peers, history has sh ...

Core Insights - Leadership roles at Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in India are projected to increase from 6,500 at the end of 2024 to 8,500 by the end of 2025, with a further 40% growth expected by the end of 2026, according to ANSR research [1][11] - GCCs are transitioning from transactional hubs to capability-led strategic centres, leading to increased demand for leadership across various levels, including heads, VPs, and global function leads [2][11] - The demand for leadership talent is particularly strong in sectors such as BFSI, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology, with companies like Amazon, FedEx, and Intuit actively hiring [6][11] Leadership Demand and Hiring Trends - A study by Xpheno indicates that BFSI, retail, and consumer durables are leading the growth in GCCs and are expected to maintain a positive outlook for leadership hiring [5][11] - The leadership talent pool is expected to grow, with a focus on higher-value activities and sustained expansion plans, despite high attrition rates in high-growth GCCs [11] - Key leadership roles being filled include heads of departments and enterprise functions in technical and commercial areas, with a strong demand for talent in engineering, IT, finance, and operations [6][11] Company Strategies and Future Outlook - Companies like Alvarez & Marsal aim to triple their GCC business in the next three years, focusing on hiring senior leaders with expertise in M&A advisory, digital, and technology consulting [7][11] - Sanofi and Intuit are also expanding their leadership teams, with a commitment to hiring senior roles that align with their strategic growth objectives in India [8][9][11] - The concept of 'GCC 3.0' is emerging, characterized by deep strategic integration, with 80% of GCCs now taking ownership of end-to-end global processes and participating in global decision-making [9][11]

price of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Right now, you could probably use Google or another data provider to see theof ASX: CBA ) is around $161 per share. But what are CBA shares really worth? How to get to an valuation is one of the more popular questions our senior investment analysts get asked by Australian investors, especially those seeking dividend income. It’s not exclusive to Commonwealth Bank of Australia, of course.ANZ Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) are also very pop ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the valuation of National Australia Bank Ltd (NAB) shares, highlighting the importance of understanding their worth for investors, particularly those seeking dividend income. Group 1: Valuation Methods - The Price-Earnings (PE) ratio is a common tool for valuing shares, comparing a company's share price to its earnings per share, with NAB's current PE ratio at 18.6x compared to the banking sector average of 19x [4][6] - A sector-adjusted PE valuation for NAB, based on its earnings per share and the sector average PE, results in a valuation of $41.85 [6] - The Dividend Discount Model (DDM) is highlighted as a more effective valuation method for banks, relying on past or forecasted dividends and assuming consistent growth [7][8] Group 2: Dividend Valuation - The DDM formula used for valuation is Share price = full-year dividend / (risk rate – dividend growth rate), with an average valuation of NAB shares calculated at $35.74 using a blended growth and risk rate [9][11] - Adjusting the dividend payment to $1.71 per share increases the valuation to $36.16, while considering gross dividends (including franking credits) raises the valuation to $51.66 [11][12] Group 3: Market Context - The Australian banking sector, including NAB, operates in an oligopoly, with large banks favored by investors for their dividend income and franking credits [2][3] - Despite attempts by international banks to enter the Australian market, their success has been limited, reinforcing the strong position of the "Big Four" banks [3]

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. dollar is under pressure, leading to gains in the euro and pound, as the Federal Reserve's recent rate cut and comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell were perceived as less hawkish than expected, reinforcing dollar selling momentum [1][6]. Group 1: Currency Movements - The euro was steady at $1.1741 after a 0.37% rise, while the pound was firmer at $1.33955, both poised for their third consecutive week of gains [1]. - The dollar index, measuring the U.S. currency against six major rivals, was at 98.34, set for a weekly drop of 0.7% and down over 9% this year, on track for its steepest annual drop since 2017 [6]. - The Japanese yen is expected to gain slightly, trading at 155.61 per dollar, while the Australian dollar remained steady at $0.6667 and the New Zealand dollar was 0.14% firmer at $0.5815 [7][9]. Group 2: Federal Reserve and Monetary Policy - The Federal Reserve cut rates as expected, but the comments from Powell were seen as less hawkish, which may help avoid negative surprises for investors [2][6]. - There is uncertainty regarding the U.S. monetary policy path next year, with traders pricing in two rate cuts in 2026, while policymakers anticipate only one cut next year and one in 2027 [6]. - Economic data lagging from the recent federal government shutdown will influence future monetary policy decisions, with the upcoming midterm elections likely focusing on economic performance [6]. Group 3: Economic Outlook - The Swiss National Bank maintained its policy rate at 0% and noted that a recent agreement to reduce U.S. tariffs on Swiss goods has improved the economic outlook, despite inflation being below expectations [8][9]. - Concerns regarding the U.S. labor market are expected to drive the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to consider further interest rate cuts next year [6].

price of ANZ Banking Group (Right now, you could probably use Google or another data provider to see theof ASX: ANZ ) is around $36 per share. But what are ANZ shares really worth? How to get to an share valuation is one of the more popular questions our senior investment analysts get asked by Australian investors, especially those seeking dividend income. It’s not exclusive to ANZ Banking Group, of course.National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) are also very pop ...

Core Viewpoint - The valuation of Bendigo & Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) shares is a topic of interest for investors, particularly those seeking dividend income, with current share price around $10.38 and various valuation methods suggesting higher intrinsic values [1][11]. Group 1: Valuation Methods - The Price-Earnings (PE) ratio is a common valuation tool, comparing a company's share price to its earnings per share, with BEN's current PE ratio at 11.9x compared to the banking sector average of 18x, suggesting a sector-adjusted valuation of $15.85 [6][5]. - The Dividend Discount Model (DDM) is highlighted as a more effective valuation method for banks, relying on past or forecasted dividends and assuming consistent growth, with BEN's valuation ranging from $13.32 to $19.64 depending on the dividend and risk rate assumptions [7][12][11]. Group 2: Dividend Insights - Fully franked dividends are a significant factor in boosting BEN's share price, as they provide additional value to eligible shareholders through franking credits [12][3]. - The DDM approach considers the last year's dividend payment of $0.63, with adjustments leading to different valuations based on growth and risk rates, indicating the importance of dividend consistency in valuation [10][11]. Group 3: Market Context - The Australian banking sector is characterized by an oligopoly, with major players like Commonwealth Bank and National Australia Bank, making bank shares particularly attractive to investors [2][3]. - Despite attempts by international banks to penetrate the Australian market, their success has been limited, reinforcing the stability of local bank shares [3].

price of Westpac Banking Corp (Right now, you could probably use Google or another data provider to see theof ASX: WBC ) is around $37 per share. But what are WBC shares really worth? How to get to an target valuation is one of the more popular questions our senior investment analysts get asked by Australian investors, especially those seeking dividend income. It’s not exclusive to Westpac Banking Corp, of course.Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) and National Australia Bank Ltd (ASX: NAB) are also very ...

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price had a rough month in November. Here’s how it performed compared to the ASX 200 (ASX: XJO).Last month, the ASX 200 declined by 3%, but the ASX bank share declined by much more.The Commonwealth Bank share price dropped 11%, which was significant underperformance and a large drop for the ASX’s biggest business.During the month, the ASX bank share reported its update for the first quarter of FY26, so let’s see what was unimpressive about it.Disappointing ...