Mortgage pain

Mortgage stress has risen 0.7 per cent between January and February, with about 581,000 households in some degree of mortgage pain. According to Fujitsu's latest report on mortgage stress, the problem is down from its peak of 900,000 households in August 2008. But the number of severely stressed households (those facing a potential sale or foreclosure or forced refinancing) rose by 2 per cent, driven by higher interest rates, flat income levels and increases in living costs.

Same regulation

Mutuals are considered the least-secure segment for retail deposits in Australia. According to a CoreData survey, 13.7 per cent of respondents consider deposits held by credit unions and building societies to be "very secure", while 13.9 per cent consider mutual deposits to be "somewhat not secure". The results are surprising, given mutuals are regulated to the same standards as banks and that the deposits, up to $1 million, are guaranteed by the federal government.

White knight

The Investment and Financial Services Association, the lobby group that represents retail fund managers, wants to have super included in any paid parental leave scheme. IFSA-commissioned research shows a typical woman will save 35 per cent less for retirement than a man.

DIY

Super savings grew 3.3 per cent in the December 2009 quarter to reach $1.23 trillion. According to Australian Prudential Regulation Authority data, industry funds grew the most during that period, followed by self-managed super funds, now the biggest segment of the market. During the 12 months to December 31, retirement savings were 20.3 per cent higher.