Author: roymorgansocial

Woolworths facing union boycott threat

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 29-Nov-17

The New South Wales branch of the National Union of Workers has called on consumers to boycott Woolworths in the lead-up to Christmas. This follows the supermarket chain’s decision to stand down union delegates in early November over alleged breaches of safety rules. The delegates, who work at its Minchinbury warehouse, were stood down after allegedly telling other workers to take off their protective vests, in protest at the alleged bullying of staff there by a manager. A Woolworths spokesperson says it hopes to conclude an investigation into the matter in the week ending 2 December.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL UNION OF WORKERS, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, UNILEVER AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CARLTON AND UNITED BREWERIES

Windsor apology after Mundine defamed on Twitter

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 2 : 29-Nov-17

Tony Windsor has apologised to indigenous leader Warren Mundine after the latter claimed comments made by Windsor on Twitter amounted to defamation. Windsor, the former member for the federal seat of New England, had made the comments while watching Mundine on the ABC’s "Q&A" program on 27 November. Mundine said Windsor had implied he was "in the pocket" of mining company Adani. Windsor used Twitter to apologise to Mundine, and deleted the offending tweet.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, TWITTER INCORPORATED, ADANI MINING PTY LTD

Australians losing faith in democracy, report finds

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Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 29-Nov-17

Just 28 per cent of Australians trust the federal government to do the right thing by them either most of the time or almost always, compared to 48 per cent in 2009. This is according to the latest findings of the Monash University-Scanlon Foundation Social Cohesion Program, which has gauged Australians’ views on issues such as immigration, discrimination and political trust annually for the past decade. Over a third of respondents stated Australia’s current political system needs either a major revamp or replacing altogether.

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MONASH UNIVERSITY, SCANLON FOUNDATION, ONE NATION PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Bitcoins OK for purchase of mansion

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 29-Nov-17

The vendor of a home at Mt Macedon in Victoria is happy to accept payment for the property in bitcoin, with the six-bedroom home available at $A2.5 million in "fiat currency terms". Dominic Romeo from Unique Estate, which is selling the property, believes it could start a trend that other vendors around Australia are likely to follow. However, property owner Paul Hosking is not quite so certain, saying that being prepared to accept bitcoin for your home is not something he would recommend without first carefully researching the topic.

CORPORATES
UNIQUE ESTATE, LONDON WALL

Songwriting becomes boom export industry

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Original article by Michael Bailey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 29-Nov-17

Australian songwriters earned $A43.5 million from foreign royalties in 2016-17, according to APRA AMCOS. This compares to just $A21.8 million in 2012-13, with the doubling in royalties collection attributed to the growth of music streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. Jake Mason from Melbourne band Cookin’ On 3 Burners says the popularity of music streaming has helped to make it more well known internationally, but that new artists still struggle to make a name for themselves in the music industry.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALASIAN PERFORMING RIGHT ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALASIAN MECHANICAL COPYRIGHT OWNERS SOCIETY LIMITED, APPLE INCORPORATED, SPOTIFY LIMITED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED

BHP expects to cut Australian mine costs by further 10pc, talks up copper prices

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 29-Nov-17

BHP Billiton has told participants at its investors’ briefing on 28 November that it aims to achieve $US2 billion in productivity gains over the next 24 months, with its Australian mines expected to account for 80 per cent of that target. Its iron ore division, which achieved unit costs of $US14.60 per tonne in the year to 30 June 2017, is expected to reduce that figure to under $US13 in the medium term. Meanwhile, BHP told investors that copper prices in 2017 had been better than forecast, and that it expects prices to again be strong in 2018.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FREEPORT-McMORAN COPPER AND GOLD INCORPORATED, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

OECD urges RBA to start lifting rates

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 29-Nov-17

The OECD expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to lift interest rates in the second half of 2018, even if the inflation rate remains within the RBA’s target of two to three per cent. The OECD argues that rates will need to be increased in order to address concerns about Australia’s debt levels and to dampen down its housing market. The OECD has also called on the federal government to stick to its goal of improving the budget.

CORPORATES
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

Accused had links to radical Islamists, police allege

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Original article by
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Nov-17

Ali Khalif Shire Ali appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 28 November to face terrorism-related charges, having been arrested on the previous day. Police allege that he was trying to secure an automatic weapon with the intention of carrying out a terrorist attack in Melbourne’s Federation Square on New Year’s Eve 2017. It is understood Ali has been under surveillance by counter-terrorism officers for two years, while he has claimed ASIO tried to recruit him as an informant. Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan says police are looking to see if Ali has links to other radicals.

CORPORATES
MELBOURNE MAGISTRATES’ COURT, AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE ORGANISATION, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence moderates after recent strength down 1.4pts to 115.0

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Nov-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence declined in the week ending 26 November, easing 1.2% to 115.0. However, confidence remains above the long term average of 112.9. Three out of five sub-indices posted falls, including both current and future economic conditions. Households’ views towards both current and future economic conditions slipped 3.4% and 3.3% respectively, after two weeks of solid gains. Household views toward the state of their current finances slipped for the fourth consecutive week, down 2.3%, while sentiment around the ‘time to buy a household item’ improved 0.5%, bringing this sub-index back to its long term average (133.8).

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ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Domino’s in David & Goliath battle over GPS

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 28-Nov-17

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises is the subject of legal action by Sydney IT company Precision Tracking. The latter has accused Domino’s of infringing its patents, and is seeking an injunction to prevent Domino’s from continuing to use its GPS Driver Tracker system, as well as seeking damages. Precision Tracking contends Domino’s system is based on its GPS technology. Litigation Capital Management is helping to finance Precision Tracking’s action against Domino’s. Precision Tracking claims it and Domino’s were involved in a partnership to develop its technology, but that the pizza maker reneged on their arrangement. Domino’s is counter-suing Precision Tracking and its three directors.

CORPORATES
DOMINO’S PIZZA ENTERPRISES LIMITED – ASX DMP, PRECISION TRACKING, LITIGATION CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX LCA, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA