Daily Dispatches: signs of improvement at Macquarie

Macquarie Group says the operational performance of most of its major businesses improved in the first quarter from the previous three month period. (Business Day)

NAB has been dragged into the events around the collapse of Townsville-based Storm Financial with allegations that a NAB loan to a Townsville man organised through Storm did not contain correct information. (The Australian)

Unions have criticised the 6 per cent pay rise given to Commonwealth Bank chief executive Ralph Norris, saying the $9.2m package is out of step with the financial crisis that has shaken the world's banking system. (Sydney Morning Herald)

The unemployment rate remained static last month, but Victoria suffered worse than any other state. (Herald Sun)

The chairman of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, said that the anger over bank compensation programs and bonuses was "understandable and appropriate" and that multi-year guaranteed employment contracts "should be banned entirely". (The Australian)