Daily Dispatches: more consolidation to come in fin planning

Perpetual chief executive David Deverall has pointed to the likelihood of further merger and acquisition activity within the financial planning sector. (Money Management)

QBE plans European expansion. (Financial Times)

The outlook for Australia and New Zealand's banking system is negative because of the slowing of the global and local economies, according to Moody's. (Sydney Morning Herald)

Analysts give thumbs up to NAB's Aviva acquisition. (Herald Sun)

CBA has been castigated for continuing to charge interest on Storm Financial victims' loans after last week's offer of a loan repayment holiday. (Sydney Morning Herald)

Merrill Lynch could have closed down a debt-ridden options account seized from Sydney investor David Waterhouse in just a few days but unaccountably kept it open for months, a Melbourne court heard yesterday. (The Australian)

A crackdown on how expat Australians are taxed announced by Treasurer Wayne Swan on budget night on May 12 has run into choppy waters in a Senate committee. (News.com.au)