ASIC REDUCED RETAIL CFD FEES BY 23% IN 2025-26

ASIC (AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT COMMISSION) ANNOUNCED A 23 PER CENT REDUCTION IN RETAIL DIFFERENTIAL CONTRACT (CFD) DISTRIBUTORS FOR THE 2025-26 FISCAL YEAR, WITH AN ESTIMATED $128,388 (APPROXIMATELY $85,000) PER COMPANY COMPARED TO $166,679 LAST YEAR. DESPITE THE DECLINE IN FEES, ASIC IS EXPECTED TO RECOVER APPROXIMATELY $400 MILLION (APPROXIMATELY $264 MILLION) IN 52 REGULATED SUB-SECTORS, AN 18.6 PER CENT INCREASE FROM $337.57 MILLION IN THE 2024-25 FISCAL YEAR. ACCORDING TO ASIC, COSTS HAVE RISEN IN ALL SECTORS, PARTICULARLY IN FINANCIAL COUNSELLING AND INSURANCE, WHICH HAVE INCREASED BY 34.5 PER CENT AND 35.4 PER CENT, RESPECTIVELY. IN ADDITION, ASIC REQUIRED SEVEN BROKERS TO REFUND $4.3 MILLION PAID TO RETAIL CUSTOMERS FOR LEVERAGE IRREGULARITIES。