Austock profits fall
Funds manager Austock has had a tough year, with net profit after tax of $8.1 million, a decline of 27 per cent from $11.1 million in the previous corresponding year.
Underlying earnings per share fell to 7.0 cents, a decline from 10.8 cents in 2007. However, total funds under management (FUM) have remained stable at $1.3 billion despite declining markets.
Austock managing director Tim Boyle said the company’s board of directors continued to believe that Austock was well positioned to fulfil its future growth potential.
“Austock will continue to review alternative strategies to maximise the value of its investments and build a portfolio of robust financial services businesses to carry it through current market conditions,” he said.
“Austock remains well capitalised. It has strong cash reserves, a strong management team, a structure and a strategy for long-term growth.”
In a statement by the company, as the first annual report since becoming a listed company, this has been a disappointing “result flowing from the extent of the global market turmoil”.
Recommended for you
The FSCP has announced its latest verdict, suspending an adviser’s registration for failing to comply with his obligations when providing advice to three clients.
Having sold Madison to Infocus earlier this year, Clime has now set up a new financial advice licensee with eight advisers.
With licensees such as Insignia looking to AI for advice efficiencies, they are being urged to write clear AI policies as soon as possible to prevent a “Wild West” of providers being used by their practices.
Iress has revealed the number of clients per adviser that top advice firms serve, as well as how many client meetings they conduct each week.