December 31, 2020 11:22 AM AEDT
Summary
- The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) introduced dividend restrictions on the banking sector amid the pandemic.
- A significant proportion of Australian companies either slashed or deferred dividend payments.
- The Australian economy getting back on track is a positive sign for the dividend landscape.
The restrictions imposed to stall coronavirus’ massive transmission across the globe opened a can of worms for the business landscape. The restrictions triggered a dramatic decline in operations amid the pandemic. The repercussions were innumerable, stretching from the drop in revenues to an increased threat of survival while many companies slashed dividend to reserve liquidity.
Although the action helped the companies save significant amount of capital, it was a bolt out of the blue for the dividend investors. Notably, Australian companies have been a hot ticket for years, owing to the significant proportion of dividend they offer to the investors. The sudden cutback in income source, especially when health scenario was a wreck, eroded the ‘dividend-philic’ sentiments of many.
ALSO READ: 10 ASX-listed dividend stocks under the spotlight
To make the matter worse, the financial downturns exacerbated by job losses dealt another crushing blow to the stockholders. Nevertheless, the Australian economy is starting to look up and the improvement in job scenario and consumer sentiments has been a positive sign, not only for business settings but also for that chunk of additional income that dividend investors look for.
DO READ: Do You Know These Dividend Stars Worth Exploring in 2021?
In this backdrop, let us look at 2020’s dividend landscape of Australia.
The dividend income from Australian banks has been a pivotal element of many investors’ conservative strategy, who seek to manage their living costs through additional revenue stream without disturbing the underlying capital. However, the pandemic scenario and the associated uncertainties have affected the regulatory settings for the distribution of dividends.
APRA’s diktat to banks on prudent capital management capped dividend payments initially, wherein the dividend outflows were either deferred or offset to a considerable extent in order to maintain buffer. The focus was primarily on supporting the economy in times of crisis.
Nevertheless, with the improving scenario, the APRA guidance was updated in July-end, thereby easing restrictions on dividend payment. Thus, the banking sector was then required to maintain at least half of their earnings before making dividend-related decisions.
However, the outlook showing a significant upturn, has been typically encouraging for dividend income as APRA has removed limits on bank’s dividends. The decision to remove restrictions came in December, with the changes in the regulatory setting effective from 1 January 2021.
ALSO READ: How is the Banking Space Charting Out Revival Story in 2021?
Big Four Bank’s dividend. Source: ASX
While dividend limits predominantly capped dividend income from the banking sector, many other companies followed suit in order to maintain cash amid unprecedented times. Notably, dividend investing has gained massive popularity among Australian investors owing to its tax benefit. The dividends are not double taxed in Australia and the investors can enjoy tax benefit of the franked dividends.
However, the crisis ruptured the ideal dividend environment in Australia as around one-third of the Australian companies decided not to pay the dividend. It has affected the dividend yields of many, given their share price was able to bounce back from the bottom-mark.
The pandemic managed to expose the risk associated with what was once regarded as one of the safest investment strategies. Over the years, investors’ hunt for high-dividend yield stocks has grown significantly, especially allowing self-funded retirees to receive a consistent flow of income. While the dividend investment strategy may consider the general underlying scenario, nevertheless, encapsulating risk-consideration of a catastrophe of this magnitude is highly unlikely. Since the pandemic is far from over, the prudent investment could involve a mix of diversification and value investment, with the focus on the current volatile scenario.
September 01, 2020 01:03 PM AEST
iSentric Limited (ASX:ICU), an advanced fintech and digital commerce software and services provider, has unveiled its preliminary final report for the period ended 30 June 2020 and important subsequent events.
Following are some of FY20 highlights:
Additionally, the Company sharpened its focus on core fintech business divisions of Mobile Banking and Digital Payments across Malaysia and Indonesia. ICU also highlighted important changes in the board and senior executive teams, rebranding of its mobile banking and payment processing platform to the IOU Pay Platform, and the renaming to IOU Pay (Asia) Sdn Bhd from Isentric Wireless Sdn Bhd.
Notably, the Company’s Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders is scheduled for 30 September 2020.
On 1 September 2020, ICU was trading at AU$0.073 at AEST (12:45 PM).
August 31, 2020 05:37 PM AEST
Temple & Webster (ASX:TPW) has reported a 74% growth in its FY2020 revenue of A$176.3 million for the period ended 30 June 2020.
August 31, 2020 12:43 PM AEST
ASX-listed global payment solutions provider, Splitit Payments Limited (ASX:SPT) reported its financial results for the half-year (ended 30 June 2020) and provided its operational performance update.
Splitit anticipates rapid growth to continue in H2 FY20 and beyond.
On 31 August 2020, SPL share price was reported at A$1.890 up by 3.279% at AEST 12:37 PM.
August 31, 2020 12:22 PM AEST
National Australia Bank Limited (ASX:NAB) has signed a Sale and Purchase Agreement to sell 100% of MLC Wealth to IOOF Holdings Ltd for A$1,440 million.
The agreement follows the strategic decision announced by the company in 2018 to pursue an exit of MLC Wealth and is in line with the company’s strategy to simplify and focus on its core banking business, while creating a stronger future for MLC.
At AEST 11:46 AM, NAB shares are trading at A$18.04, up 0.613% from the previous close.
August 31, 2020 12:22 PM AEST
Australian premium infant formula producer, Bubs Australia Limited (ASX:BUB) disclosed its annual report for FY20 (year ended 30 June 2020), highlights are-
The results during FY20 were driven by the robust performance of Bubs® Infant Formula in each retail regions and channels.
August 28, 2020 05:10 PM AEST
California approves USD 437 million to build EV chargers, an effort to expand the EV charging infrastructure.
August 28, 2020 05:09 PM AEST
TerraPower LLC- Bill Gates’ nuclear energy venture, hopes to build small advanced nuclear power stations which are able to store electricity in order to supplement grids supplied by intermittent renewable sources.
August 28, 2020 03:17 PM AEST
Troy Resources Limited (ASX:TRY), an experienced gold player, released the Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending on 30 June 2020. Troy produced over 23,580 ounces of gold in FY20 with least gold production from the December quarter during which the mining operations were temporarily ceased following an accident at the mine site.
Despite the pandemic, Troy ensured that the critical supplies remain unaffected by reduced freight flights into Guyana and gold produced continued to be transported to the refinery in Canada.
Here are the major key highlights from the financial report-
On 28 August 2020, Troy Resources traded at $0.115 a share at 01:26 PM AEST, with a market capitalisation of $75.85 million.
August 28, 2020 01:41 PM AEST
Troy Resources Limited (ASX:TRY), an experienced gold player, released the Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending on 30 June 2020. Troy produced over 23,580 ounces of gold in FY20 with least gold production from the December quarter during which the mining operations were temporarily ceased following an accident at the mine site.
Despite the pandemic, Troy ensured that the critical supplies remain unaffected by reduced freight flights into Guyana and gold produced continued to be transported to the refinery in Canada.
Here are the major key highlights from the financial report-
On 28 August 2020, Troy Resources traded at A$0.115 a share at 01:26 PM AEST, with a market capitalisation of A$75.85 million.
August 28, 2020 12:41 PM AEST
Federal Bank Chairman Jerome H. Powell announced a major policy shift on 27 August 2020 to average inflation targeting. The decision taken by Federal Bank about proper monetary policy shall continue to reflect a wide array of factors and shall not be influenced by any formula. The revisions to the statement combine to a strong updating of the monetary policy framework. The revision also reflects the way the policy has been conducted these days.
In conducting monetary policy, the focus was on promoting as strong a labour market as possible. Also, efforts would be made constantly to achieve a 2% inflation rate over time.
August 28, 2020 12:40 PM AEST
In a latest update, diversified company BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) has confirmed that its non-renounceable rights issue, announced on 23rd July 2020, has closed. The Company has also provided the results of the rights issue, which are as follows:
The total applications comprised applications for ~17.5 million shares totaling ~$262.1k to be settled by amounts owing to the applicants by the Company, including applications for ~774k shortfall shares totaling ~$11.6k.
The funds raised from the non-renounceable rights issue will be applied to BPH’s investments, including an exploration into oil and gas. The fund raising, along with BPH’s cash position, seem to be putting the company in a strong position to continue these objectives.
BPH traded at $0.031 mid-day on 28 August 2020.
August 28, 2020 12:39 PM AEST
Australia-based company Renascor Resources Limited (ASX: RNU) has reported to have identified multiple untested, shallow gold targets along-strike from its Soyuz prospect at the Carnding Gold Project in South Australia’s Central Gawler Craton.
Significantly, an induced polarization (IP) survey, which identified the new targets has confirmed an anomalous zone within a coincident geochemical and magnetic anomaly ~500m along-strike of the previous high-grade drilling at the prospect.
Renascor considers Soyuz and other prospects in the project area, to offer multiple drill-ready targets for near-surface, high-grade, granite-associated gold deposits.
Renascor is currently seeking approvals to commence drilling at Soyuz. The planned programs are expected to include drill testing of the existing gold zone at Soyuz, the IP anomaly and additional targets. The targets may be identified from upcoming infill soil sampling and ground geophysical surveys in the project area.
RNU stock traded at $0.014 on 28 August 2020 (at 11:57 AM AEST)
August 28, 2020 12:38 PM AEST
Retail Food Group Limited (ASX:RFG) has released its FY2020 results for the year ended 30 June 2020. Below is snapshot of the result.
At AEST 11:41 AM, RFG shares were trading at A$0.07, down 1.408% from the previous close.
August 28, 2020 12:37 PM AEST
Opthea Limited (ASX:OPT) has released its FY2020 results and reported a fall in its revenue by 11.6% to A$808,405. Loss from the ordinary activities which was A$20,910,061 in FY2019 decreased to A$16,529,281 in FY20.
The major expenses during the period was related to R&D, especially costs related to the Phase 2b and Phase1b/2a clinical trials of OPT?302 for wet AMD and DME. Direct R&D expenses amounted to A$17,954,073.
Moreover, OPT received an R&D tax incentive payment of A$14,636,973 during FY2020.
At AEST 12:06 PM, OPT shares we trading at $2.510, up by 0.803%.
August 27, 2020 06:24 PM AEST
The Australian share market today surged slightly by 0.16 and the benchmark index S&P/ASX200 settled at 6126.2 as compared to yesterday's closure at 6116.4 points.
In the US stock market on Wednesday, the Nasdaq Composite increased by 1.73 per cent as Facebook surged 8.2 per cent, Netflix 11.6 per cent and Tesla 6.4 per cent. The S&P 500 was up by 1.02 per cent. The Dow Industrials gained 0.3 per cent.
The commodity section today at AEST 2:58 PM - the Australian dollar was up by 0.10 per cent; it was trading at AUD 0.7238, gold down by 0.59 per cent and was trading at USD 1942.75. If we talk about crude oil, it was down by 0.05 per cent and was trading at USD 43.34 a barrel.
The stocks that exceeded others in today's trading session are:
The stocks that suffered the most today are:
Let's see the graph below for the five top and least performing stocks for today's market:
August 27, 2020 06:22 PM AEST
The demand for lithium would be dominated by the EV industry over the next ten years – says Cochilco, the Chilean state mining agency.
August 27, 2020 06:22 PM AEST
The United States government oil and gas lease sale in the last five months kicks off, attracting weak bidding from oil producers in New Mexico as compared to the pre-crisis times.