Daily Dispatches: profits up at Agricultural Bank

Agricultural Bank of China, the only big state lender that has yet to float shares, said its third quarter net profit rose 13 per cent to 49.7 billion yuan (US$7.3 billion), helped by a lending boom as a huge government stimulus shielded China from the worst of the global economic fallout. (Reuters)

Life insurers in Singapore have been warned to stamp out questionable recruitment practices - a move that is set to bring direct benefits to policyholders. One key problem that the Life Insurance Association (LIA) aims to crack down on, by imposing stern penalties, is the mass poaching of rival agents. (Asia One)

A listing of recent and upcoming IPOs in Asia. (Financial Times)

Australia could surrender a competitive advantage in banking built up over decades if it adopted global reforms designed to reduce risk in the financial system, former Westpac chief executive David Morgan said yesterday. (The Australian)