Morning Briefing: Messaging apps hold big opportunity for fintech

Citibank's CMO says consumers are no longer comparing banks with banks... Price growth finishes financial year with a whimper...

Messaging apps hold big opportunity for fintech
Citibank global fintech chief marketing officer Linda Duncombe has said consumers are no longer comparing banks with banks, according to the Australian Financial Review.

There is big opportunity for financial services should they look to integrate with messaging applications such as Whatsapp and WeChat, Duncombe says.

"Look at messaging apps and their growth, it is phenomenal," Duncombe told The Australian Financial Review. 

"I think about my life, living in New York, Whatsapp is a huge part of my life and how I stay engaged and connected to my family and friends in Australia. 

"When you hear the word disruption ... no consumer is saying that. No one says 'I want my life disrupted'. What they're saying is 'I want my life to be more simple' and if that's in your industry then be disrupted."

Price growth finishes financial year with a whimper
It might not be what investors and homeowners what to hear, but a recent slowdown in house price growth may hold some positives for the market.

Released last week, CoreLogic’s June Home Value Index has revealed that Australia’s combined capital city median dwelling price rose 0.5% over the month to $580,000.

In the 12 months to the end of June, the combined capital city median is up 8.3%, however the June increase was modest compared to preceding months, something CoreLogic research head Tim Lawless said will be welcomed given continued concerns about the rate of house price growth in Australia.

“Importantly, the pace of capital gains in June was substantially lower than the April and May results when CoreLogic reported a 1.7%, and 1.6% month-on-month lift in capital city dwelling values,” Lawless said.

“The monthly growth rate reduction is likely to be very much welcomed by state and federal government policy makers and regulators who may be concerned about a sustained rebound in capital gains,” he said.
(Your Investment Property)