CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

IMPROVEMENT IN NOMINEE ESTIMATES

A further improvement to methodology for compiling nominee data has been implemented in line with the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual, Sixth Edition (BPM6). This issue includes the improvement of equity dividend income estimates on a BPM6 basis whereby dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The ex-dividend date reflects the point in time at which those dividends declared and not paid are removed from the market price of the underlying security, and in doing so reflect the point in time at which shareholders are entitled to the dividend.

Changes to the income data associated with the revisions are now included in this issue and the series have been revised back to 2012. The resulting revisions mainly affect portfolio investment liabilities, income on equity and investment fund shares.

REVISIONS

Revisions in this issue of the publication will include revised estimates derived from the improved data collected from the nominee collection between calendar years 2012 to 2015. This will only affect Foreign Investment in Australia - Portfolio Investment statistics. Further revisions include incorporation of new estimates from the latest survey and administrative data which has resulted in revisions to International Investment data back to calendar year 2011.


ROUNDING

Discrepancies may occur between totals in this publication and the same aggregates from other sources, and between sums of component items and totals due to rounding.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or International Accounts in Canberra on (02) 6252 5541. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us.