2018 Budgeting & Savings Apps worth checking out
Looking to take control of your finances, but don’t know where to start? Your smartphone could possibly help you, thanks to these new budgeting and savings apps that have grabbed the public’s attention. According to a recent study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia’s average household savings ratio (the ratio of income saved to household net disposable income) is currently at a record low of 4%. Furthermore, a study by UBank found that in 2017, two million Australians had less than $1,000 set aside in their savings accounts. There’s no doubt that saving money, tracking expenses and sticking to an allocated budget can be tough, not to mention that […]
Fintech startup HashChing has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign
Mortgage marketplace startup HashChing, a fintech startup disrupting the monopoly of the big banks, has launched an equity crowdfunding campaign. It’s currently live on the Equitise platform, which has one of the seven crowdfunding licences issued for the first time this year. HashChing, which is seeking between $1 million and $5 million, has so far raised $286,500, at a minimum $250 investment, with another eight days to go. “A slight difference in interest rates can cost a homeowner thousands of dollar each year,” says Mandeep Sodhi, founder and CEO. “This is why one out of two Australians like to deal with a mortgage broker instead of going direct to the […]
CoinJar opens the trading floor with Australia’s fastest digital currency exchange
Australian cryptocurrency company CoinJar, has launched its new high-speed digital currency trading platform, CoinJar Exchange. The exchange is the fastest in Australia, and will allow cryptocurrency traders to trade Bitcoin and Australian Dollars against popular cryptocurrencies Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple. CoinJar Exchange boasts a superior trading engine which processes and fills orders faster than any of its competitors in Australia. This reduces latency and provides sophisticated and retail traders with a faster experience when trading using the CoinJar Exchange. Integration with buy and sell orders from other exchanges will provide greater market liquidity, allowing CoinJar traders to enter and exit with ease. The exchange also has an open trading application […]
Credit law delay angers FinTechs
The FinTech industry body has criticised the government and consumer groups over delays to new comprehensive credit reporting laws, with the legislation now remaining in the lower house for three months. It comes as a senate committee gave a tick of approval to the bill, despite a number of concerns surrounding its potential impact on vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians. Treasurer Scott Morrison announced in November last year that the government would be legislating a mandatory comprehensive credit reporting regime, requiring all banks to provide credit information and active consumer credit accounts to eligible reporting bodies. Under the scheme, banks would have to provide “positive” credit data, including how many accounts […]
The best, and worst, performing Australian ETFs for 2018
Exchange-traded funds (ETF) under management in Australia grew 33% over the past year to $36.2 billion, according to the annual ETF Report by robo-advice fintech Stockspot. The best performer was UBS IQ MSCI Asia APEX 50 Ethical ETF, which generated a return of 30.1%. The biggest loser was BetaShares Australian Dividend Harvester Fund which lost 16.2%. This fund invests in large ASX shares that are about to pay dividends while also selling futures contracts as a form of hedging to reduce risk. Chris Brycki, CEO and founder of Stockspot, says this year’s findings signal the ongoing disruption to the asset management industry by ETFs and indexing. “The investment industry is […]
YBF Ventures just scored $1.1 million in a new partnership deal
Melbourne-based innovation hub YBF Ventures has secured $1.1 million from Silicon Valley-based Partners for Growth (PFG) through a tailored debt funding facility. YBF CEO Farley Blackman says the funding will allow the hub to focus on growth, which includes significant expansion of its footprint throughout Australia.“As we grow, so will the number of startups, scaleups and companies that we support,” he said. The US investor, which provides specialised lending, has a strong track record in Australia, including funding facilities for 38 of Australia’s fastest growing companies such as Prospa, Koala Sleep and CashRewards. The investment is part of a new strategic partnership deal between the two organisation, to advance entrepreneurship […]
Online lender Prospa delays float 30 minutes to listing
The sharemarket float of online lender Prospa has been postponed about half an hour before the planned listing, after the corporate watchdog wanted further details of its small business loan contracts. Prospa and its joint lead managers – investment banks UBS and Macquarie – said the 48-hour delay was because it was “seeking to clarify queries raised by ASIC yesterday in relation to Prospa’s small business loan terms,” as part of a wider review. “Prospa was first contacted yesterday by ASIC in relation to its industry-wide review of small business lending – bank and non-bank. The review covers a range of topics,” a Prospa spokeswoman said. “We take our legal […]
Wisr launches employee financial wellness solution: Wisr @ Work
Neo lender Wisr has launched a financial wellness program aimed at helping businesses combat one of the biggest causes of workplace stress, personal financial difficulties. Called Wisr @ Work, this program allows businesses to provide staff with online tools, education materials and debt reduction applications to help employees take control of their money and improve financial wellness. According to a Wisr survey of 250 Australians, it was found 48% of employees had experienced stress in the workplace because of their personal financial situation. Almost 65% said they had experienced feelings of anxiety or panic at work because of monetary issues, whilst 43% said it impacted their productivity and 35% had […]
