Author: roymorgansocial

Aldi hits new high in supermarket wars

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-May-17

The latest Supermarket Currency report from Roy Morgan Research shows that Australia’s grocery buyers spent $90.3 billion at supermarkets during the 12 months to March 2017. Of that, $32.2 billion was spent at Woolworths (35.7 per cent of the market, down from 36.3 per cent in the year to September 2016) and $30.0 billion at Coles (33.2 per cent, unchanged). Aldi claimed $11.9 billion of grocery buyers’ expenditure during the year (13.2 per cent, up from 12.5 per cent), stretching its lead over IGA, which fell to $8.4 billion (9.3 per cent, down from 9.8 per cent). The combined share of other supermarkets rose from 8.1 per cent to 8.6 per cent, or $7.8 billion.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS SUPERMARKETS, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, IGA

Business Confidence was up in April before the Federal Budget

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-May-17

Business Confidence in Australia rose 2.8pts (+2.5%) to 116.6 in April 2017, according to the Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey. The rise in Business Confidence coincided with the All Ordinaries Index gaining 43.8pts (+0.7%) to 5,947.60 during the month and strong near-record monthly trade surpluses of over $A3bn in the months leading into April. The increase in Business Confidence came before last week’s Federal Budget, which appeared to have a negative impact on Consumer Confidence – the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating fell 2.6% to 109.4 following the Budget. Business Confidence was boosted in April by improving sentiment about the year ahead. In April, 48.7% (up2.7ppts) of Australian businesses expected to be "better off" financially this time next year, while 19.7% (down 0.4ppts) expected to be "worse off". In addition, a majority of Australian businesses, 52.8% (up 2.7ppts), expected "good times" for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 40.0% (down 6.1ppts) expected "bad times" – a net positive gain of a significant 8.8ppts.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX

Budget tax increases will always lead to a lower Consumer Confidence explains Gary Morgan, Executive Chairman, Roy Morgan Research

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Original article by Gary Morgan, Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-May-17

This week’s drop in Consumer Confidence follows the Federal Budget considered by many conservatives to be "Labor-lite" and considered by those on the left to be unfair on low income earners. The Turnbull Government chose to increase taxes on consumers – by increasing the Medicare levy – rather than cutting spending; and to increase taxes on Australia’s largest banks, which could lower their share prices and lead to the banks increasing interest rates on the loans they provide to consumers and businesses alike. The budget was followed by decreases in four out of the five indices that comprise Consumer Confidence. Household financial expectations compared to a year ago dropped a net 3.2ppts, expectations for the Australian economy over the next year dropped by a net 3.9ppts and expectations for the Australian economy over the next five years dropped a net 5.5ppts. The only increase recorded was in the number of people saying now is a good time to buy.

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence resumes its downward trend – down 2.6% to 109.4

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

The latest headline ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence index dropped sharply, falling 2.6% this week. The index now sits at 109.4 – the lowest level since September 2015. The four week moving average continued to trend lower, and is now 1.6% below its long run average. Four of the five indices registered sharp declines. Households’ expectations towards their long term economic conditions posted the sharpest fall, down 5.5% over the week. This offset the previous two consecutive weekly gains. Views about current economic conditions fell by 3.9%, but remain slightly above April’s low.

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

Amazon effect puts IPOs under a cloud

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 : 16-May-17

The pending arrival of Amazon in Australia, along with reduced consumer spending, has made it less likely that three proposed IPOs in the retail sector will proceed. The IPOs in question are Retail Apparel Group, Quick Service Restaurant Holdings and Officeworks, with their combined value being put at $A2.4 billion. The lead managers behind Officeworks, which is a unit of Wesfarmers, have valued its IPO at between $A1.124 billion and $A1.5 billion, but the consensus of fund managers is that $A1.2 billion is as much as they would be willing to pay.

CORPORATES
AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, RETAIL APPAREL GROUP PTY LTD, QUICK SERVICE RESTAURANTS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, OFFICEWORKS SUPERSTORES PTY LTD, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, ARCHER CAPITAL PTY LTD, NAVIS CAPITAL PARTNERS LIMITED, YARRA CAPITAL GROUP PTY LTD, ARNHEM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MACQUARIE CAPITAL PTY LTD, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BENNELONG AUSTRALIAN EQUITY PARTNERS PTY LTD, BINGO INDUSTRIES LIMITED – ASX BIN, ZIP INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA, TAROCASH PTY LTD, YD PTY LTD, JOHNNY BIGG, CONNOR

More husbands than wives call the shots on Pay TV, and only 1 in 2 Aussie couples decide together

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-May-17

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that half of Australia’s married or de facto couples have at least one subscription or pay TV service in their home. In 50 per cent of these homes, the decisions about whether, when and which provider were made together. The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2016, also shows that in 30 per cent of cases, the man decided, while the woman did so in 20 per cent. Meanwhile, films are the number one content of interest to both husbands and wives with subscription or pay TV in the home. Overall 60 per cent say they are "very" or "quite" interested in watching new release or older films, ahead of News & Current Affairs and Documentaries, which are each of interest to 52 per cent of couples.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Hanson holds out on reform package

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 23 : 15-May-17

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has indicated that her party will not support abolition of the "two-out-of-three rule", although it will back the rest of the Federal Government’s proposed media reform package. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield is holding negotiations with senate crossbenchers to secure support for the reforms, although the Opposition also intends to vote against scrapping the two-out-of-three rule.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN

Billiton buried in BHP makeover

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 15-May-17

BHP Billiton will launch a new advertising campaign which emphasises its heritage as an Australian company that was founded in Broken Hill. The $A10m print and TV advertising campaign was developed in response to concern that people are losing trust in large companies. The Samarco tailings dam disaster in Brazil in November 2015 was also a catalyst for the new ad campaign, which uses the slogan "Think big" and refers to the company solely as BHP. It intends to drop Billiton from its name.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, BIG RED COMMUNICATIONS GROUP PTY LTD, ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Labor push for 49.5pc top tax hit

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 12-May-17

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has used his Budget reply speech to outline measures to provide funding for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. He advocated retention of the two per cent temporary deficit levy for high-income earners and increasing the Medicare levy by 0.5 per cent for people on incomes of more than $A87,000. This would increase the highest marginal tax rate to 49.5 per cent. Shorten also said the Opposition supports a proposed bank levy, although he stressed that the cost should not be passed on to customers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NICK XENOPHON TEAM, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES. MEDICARE AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD

Stand out performances by AFR, The Australian and Herald Sun

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-May-17

Roy Morgan Research has released the latest Readership results for Australian Newspapers for the 12 months to March 2017, showing that the cross-platform audience is steady overall thanks to the continuing transition of print readers to digital platforms. Across print and digital, 12,959,000 Australians 14+ (65 per cent) accessed cross-platform newspaper mastheads in the 12 months to March 2017. Australians are spending more on experiences and less on physical things, and this includes newspapers. Many industries – from retail to automotive to media – are witnessing a move away from traditional forms of "ownership". For Fairfax Media, 83 per cent of the audience is now using digital platforms, with just 34 per cent touching a print copy. For News Corp, digital reach finally surpassed print a year ago, and today 64 per cent of the audience reads via website or app – and, for the first time, only half (50 per cent) are reading in print.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS