ANZ to pay $250m penalty, ASX finishes slightly up — as it happened

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Market & Business News Brief

Summary

Global markets ended the week mixed with the ASX slightly higher. Major stories include a record $250M fine for ANZ, a deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S., and significant central bank moves from Japan and the UK. Meanwhile, Australia’s home battery scheme sees explosive growth.

Key Points

  • Markets: ASX 200 closed up 0.5% at 8,631. Wall Street rallied (S&P 500 +0.8%, Nasdaq +1.4%) led by tech, notably Micron on strong AI demand.
  • ANZ Penalty: Federal Court ordered ANZ to pay a $250 million penalty for “unconscionable conduct” in bond trading and misconduct affecting 65,000 customers. Shares still rose 1%.
  • TikTok Deal: ByteDance signed binding agreements to form a U.S. joint venture, a major step to avoid a ban and end years of uncertainty.
  • Central Banks:
    • Bank of Japan: Raised short-term interest rate to 0.75%, the highest in 30 years. 10-year bond yield hit 2%, a 17-year high.
    • Bank of England: Cut rates by 0.25% to 3.75%, the lowest since early 2023, citing falling inflation.
    • European Central Bank: Held rates steady, upgraded growth outlook, and signaled no near-term cuts.
  • Home Battery Boom: Government’s Cheaper Home Battery Program uptake is so strong that funding was tripled to $7.2bn. Battery-to-solar installation ratio is expected to hit 90% by year-end, up from 18% in 2023.
  • Other Business News:
    • Macquarie Group: Agreed to pay a $35 million fine for systemic misreporting of short sales over many years.
    • Productivity Commission: Proposed hybrid corporate tax reforms were criticized by CPA Australia for adding complexity and cost.
    • WiseTech: Internal review found “no evidence” co-founder misused company funds, clearing him of earlier allegations.
    • ACCC: Will not oppose Coles acquiring new supermarket leases in Victoria, provided it divests a site to ensure competition.
    • Trump Media: Acquired fusion power company TAE Technologies in a $9 billion all-stock deal.

市场与商业新闻简报

摘要

全球市场本周涨跌互现，澳股小幅收高。主要新闻包括澳新银行被处以创纪录的2.5亿澳元罚款、TikTok达成协议得以继续在美国运营，以及日本和英国央行的重大政策举动。同时，澳大利亚家庭电池计划呈现爆炸性增长。

关键点

  • 市场：澳股ASX 200指数收盘上涨0.5%，报8,631点。华尔街在科技股引领下反弹（标普500指数+0.8%，纳斯达克指数+1.4%），美光因AI需求强劲而大涨。
  • 澳新银行罚款：联邦法院命令澳新银行支付2.5亿澳元的罚款，因其在债券交易中的“不道德行为”以及影响6.5万名零售客户的“普遍不当行为”。该行股价仍上涨1%。
  • TikTok协议：字节跳动已签署具有约束力的协议，将在美国成立合资公司，这是避免禁令并结束多年不确定性的关键一步。
  • 中央银行：
    • 日本央行：将短期利率上调至0.75%，为30年来最高水平。10年期国债收益率升至2%，创17年新高。
    • 英国央行：降息0.25%至3.75%，为2023年初以来最低，理由是通胀下降。
    • 欧洲央行：维持利率不变，上调增长预期，并暗示近期不会降息。
  • 家庭电池热潮：政府的“更便宜家庭电池计划”参与度空前高涨，资金已增至72亿澳元。预计到年底，电池与太阳能安装比例将达到90%，远高于2023年的18%。
  • 其他商业新闻：
    • 麦格理集团：同意支付3500万澳元罚款，因其多年来系统性误报卖空交易。
    • 生产力委员会：提出的混合企业税改革遭到澳洲会计师公会批评，认为其增加了复杂性和成本。
    • WiseTech：内部审查发现“无证据”表明联合创始人滥用公司资金，澄清了早前的指控。
    • ACCC：不反对Coles在维多利亚州收购新超市租约，前提是其出售一处场地以确保竞争。
    • 特朗普媒体：以90亿美元全股票交易收购了聚变能源公司TAE Technologies。

Original Article Link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-19/asx-markets-business-live-news-dec19-2025/106161298

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