Author: roymorgansocial

Newcrest’s dividend plan ‘to flex’

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 15-Aug-17

Newcrest Mining has posted a 2016-17 net profit of $US308m, which is seven per cent lower than previously. The result was marred by one-off items totalling $US86m, although its underlying net profit rose 22 per cent to $US394m. Newcrest reduced its net debt to $US1.5bn in 2016-17, while it has announced a new dividend policy which will result in shareholders receiving at least 10-30 per cent of free cash flow in the form of dividends. The minimum annual dividend payout will be $US0.15 per share.

CORPORATES
NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

CBA chiefs facing more salary pain

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Original article by James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 14-Aug-17

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia could announce further cuts to executive pay and incentives in the wake of the money laundering crisis. Its actions could extend to executives who are no longer with the bank but were working for it when the suspicious ATM transactions that led to AUSTRAC’s actions occurred. Alden Toevs, the CBA’s chief risk officer from 2008 to 2016, could potentially lose his rights to CBA shares, as could former chief financial officer David Craig.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT. AUSTRALIAN TRANSACTION REPORTS AND ANALYSIS CENTRE

Super reforms blasted for favouring banks

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Original article by James Frost
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 14-Aug-17

Industry Super Australia contends that proposed superannuation legislation favours retail funds at the expense of those that ISA represents. ISA is of the view that the legislation will impose less scrutiny on bank-owned funds than not-for-profit funds, even though it states that the latter sector has outperformed bank-owned funds in recent years. ISA also contends that the proposed legislation will increase compliance costs and is in conflict with the Corporations Act.

CORPORATES
INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

It’s Official: NZ Herald is New Zealand’s most widely read publication – print & online

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 14-Aug-17

Roy Morgan Research has released its New Zealand Print Readership results for Newspapers and Magazines in the 12 months to June 2017. The "New Zealand Herald" remains the country’s most-read daily newspaper, with 1,674,000 readers either in print or online, more than three times as many as read the second-placed "Dominion Post" (488,000). However, second-tier newspapers including the "Waikato Times" (+4.9%), "Bay of Plenty Times" (+10.5%), "Hawkes Bay Today" (+6.6%) and the "Sunday News" (+32.3%) are now growing their audience the fastest, while all four of New Zealand’s most read newspapers lost ground over the past year. Meanwhile, automotive magazine "AA Directions" is read by 507,000 New Zealanders, making it the most widely-read print magazine, ahead of "New Zealand Women’s Day" on 339,000.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Amazon will benefit us: Brambles chair

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Original article by Lisa Allen, Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 19 : 14-Aug-17

Brambles chairman Stephen Johns says that although Amazon will be a "disruptive force" for Australian retailers, its entry into the local market could present an opportunity for the logistics group. He adds that the AmazonFresh business in particular should benefit Brambles’ CHEP and IFCO pallet operations. Morgan Stanley says department stores are likely to be hardest hit by Amazon’s arrival in Australia.

CORPORATES
BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, AMAZONFRESH, CHEP AUSTRALIA, IFFCO GROUP OF COMPANIES, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Fifield in legislative limbo with crossbench

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 14-Aug-17

The Federal Government is still holding talks with the Greens and Senate crossbenchers in a bid to secure support for its cross-media ownership reforms. Cory Bernardi, David Leyonhjelm and Derryn Hinch intend to support the bill, although the Government will require the support of another seven crossbenchers. Meanwhile, the Greens have expressed concern about One Nation’s proposal to undertake an expenditure review of the ABC and SBS. The bill is expected to be debated in the upper house in the week beginning 14 August.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)

We’re reluctant to pay for online news

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 14-Aug-17

A survey of 2,000 Australians by Deloitte has found that 90 per cent of respondents are not willing to pay for news due to the wealth of content that is available online for free. However, the sixth annual Media Consumer Survey also found that the issue of "fake news" is a concern for 65 per cent of respondents. Meanwhile, the survey shows that the proportion of respondents who cite social media as a primary news source has fallen from 18 per cent to 14 per cent, while 53 per cent of respondents rated television advertising as having either a high or medium influence on their purchasing decisions.

CORPORATES
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

Lowe may sit on rates two years into his term

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Original article by Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 14-Aug-17

Economists polled by Bloomberg expect Australia’s official unemployment rate to have remained at 5.6 per cent in July 2017, with about 20,000 jobs created during the month. The latest jobs and wage price index data are among the key indicators to be released in the week beginning 14 August. Meanwhile, Vimal Gor of BT Investment Management expects official interest rates to remain on hold in 2018, citing factors such as low wages growth and the growing gap between business and consumer confidence.

CORPORATES
BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Sandfire rolls the dice on growth

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 14-Aug-17

The mine life of Sandfire Resources’ DeGrussa copper project in Western Australia will be extended until 2022 when it begins processing ore from the Monty deposit. However, Paul Howard of Hartleys estimates that Sandfire will need to make another significant discovery within 12 months due to the time it takes to begin production. Sandfire CEO Karl Simich has indicated that in addition to further exploration, the miner may be prepared to buy assets that do not usually meet its criteria in order to maintain production.

CORPORATES
SANDFIRE RESOURCES NL – ASX SFR, HARTLEYS LIMITED, TALISMAN MINING LIMITED – ASX TLM, GLENCORE PLC, TRAFIGURA BEHEER BV, DIGGERS AND DEALERS FORUM

Chinese buyers retreat

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Original article by Angus Grigg
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 14-Aug-17

New Chinese Government controls on capital are in part leading to a significant drop in Chinese investment in Australian real estate. Jane Lu, the Australian head of Chinese-focused real estate portal Juwai.com, says other factors include new Australian taxes on foreign buyers and curbs being imposed by Australian banks on loans to overseas buyers. However, she notes that Australia is still the second most favoured nation for Chinese property investors. Morgan Stanley estimates that Chinese buyers accounted for $A20 billion worth of investment in Australian residential property in the 2016 fiscal year.

CORPORATES
JUWAI LIMITED, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, BELLER GROUP, DALIAN WANDA GROUP COMPANY LIMITED