Daily Dispatches: global banker bashing could hurt Big Four, claims Kelly

Gail Kelly, the Westpac chief executive, is taken aback by the political "anger and outrage" now being directed at these same banks and is fearful that Australia's well-performing banks could be caught up in the global regulatory backlash. (The Australian)

A research paper, launched today by leading recruitment company Clarius, will claim the surplus of skilled workers that formed during the global financial crisis has started to recede at an alarming pace, with 17 of the 20 skilled occupation categories experiencing a sharp drop in labour in the last three months of last year. (Daily Telegraph)

Aussie Home Loans executive chairman John Symond is positioning the company to dominate the non-bank lending sector despite expectations of up to three more interest rate rises this year. (The Australian)

Newspapers and online sites carried fewer job advertisements last month, pointing to weakness in the economy's rebound. The monthly survey by ANZ Bank showed the total number of jobs advertised in major metropolitan newspapers and on the internet fell by 8.1 per cent in January to an average of 134,106 per week, seasonally adjusted. (Sydney Morning Herald)