Daily Dispatches: bad debt worries declining for Big Four?

The improving economic outlook could see the nation's Big Four banks start to write back up to $8bn in bad-debt provisions next year, providing scope for a round of special handouts to shareholders. In a move that will probably increase the investment community's confidence about the banking sector, a leading banking analyst yesterday produced a shock report estimating that bad debt write-offs for the four majors would peak at about $9.6bn. (The Australian)

How long to retain defensive fiscal settings in the face of mounting evidence of economic recovery is a question that will bedevil at least four others beyond our still conservative Treasurer and his apparently dissident Reserve Bank governor. (The Australian)

NAB's monthly business survey's measure of business confidence fell by four index points to plus-14 points in September. (Herald Sun)

A Federal Court judge has sharply criticised the insurance regulator for its ''reprehensible'' handling of an investigation into a struggling insurance company. Justice Nye Perram has taken the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to task over its pursuit of a computer hard-drive belonging to Ross Porter, the chairman of Australian Family Assurance. (Business Day)

Daily Dispatches will be taking a break between Wednesday and Friday.