But businesses don't care about that figure. It doesn't matter to them when their cash net profit after tax is higher than the previous year. That is really the only important figure that counts.

When you talk business are you talking the CEO, Chairman, shareholders, workers, super fund holders, investments bankers or some monolithic business thingumimmy bob? All are stakeholders with different interests, often mutually beneficial. Each stakeholder will look at figures in a different way.

The reason ABC posted them was in response to my assertion that banks make about a 20% return. I was roughly right. IMO and that of a lot of economists is that is a return indicative of anti-competitive practices.

I would describe as astounding considering the economic situation globally. My opinion is that the profits are those of an uncompetitive industry. Either way they are not figures that have investors leaping from the clifftop.