Briefs: Climate change warning for financial institutions, Macquarie in the box seat for Esanda, ACF

The Climate Institute has released a paper warning that Australia's financial system may be vulnerable to the effects of climate change. These effects include a slump in demand for carbon-intensive exports. The paper warns that many financial institutions are operating under business as usual assumptions, without considering the impacts of climate change on their businesses.
Macquarie Group is confident of winning the auction for ANZ's finance company business Esanda, according to the Australian Financial Review. ANZ is selling A$8.3 billion of assets and the sale price is expected to be around $1.5 billion, according to the report, which also speculated that bidders TPG and Blackstone, Apollo Capital Management and Bain Capital had withdrawn from the auction.
The executive director of the Australian Centre for Financial Studies, Deborah Ralston, has announced her resignation. ACFS chair Jeremy Duffield said deputy director Amy Auster would serve as acting director while the board conducted a search for a new director. Ralston held the position since 2009 and helped the ACFS develop a high profile in recent years.
Australians spent A$9.3 billion online during the six months to June, according to the online payments provider eWay. Online spending was up 21.5 per cent over the previous corresponding period. eWay said the big increase was in spending on office equipment and supplies, which rose 57.8 per cent.