Author: roymorgansocial

Netflix ratings fast-tracked in pilot program

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 7-Dec-16

US subscription video-on-demand provider Netflix will trial a self-regulation system for the classification of content that it streams in Australia. The pilot program is aimed at overcoming Australia’s often lengthy process for classifying films and TV programs, to ensure that local Netflix customers can view content at the same time as it is made available overseas. The trial will include the use of an online tool that will apply Australian classification ratings to Netflix content.

CORPORATES
NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF FILM AND LITERATURE CLASSIFICATION. CLASSIFICATION REVIEW BOARD, INTERNATIONAL AGE RATING COALITION, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, MICROSOFT INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY, NINTENDO COMPANY LIMITED

Westpac and NAB lift rates on investors

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Original article by Michael Bennet
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 6-Dec-16

National Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac have raised their interest rates on loans to property investors. NAB’s new and existing investors will now pay 5.55 per cent on loans with variable rates. A rise of 15 basis points will take effect on 12 December 2016. The rate for owners-occupiers remains unchanged at 5.25 per cent. Westpac has lifted interest-only rates for investors and owner-occupiers by eight basis points.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Fairfax, Nine plan to bypass laws

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 19 & 22 : 6-Dec-16

Fairfax Media and Nine Entertainment Company are said to have held further talks regarding potential asset sales, although they are not believed to be close to finalising a deal. Several options are believed to be under consideration in order to avoid any such deal being blocked due to the "two-out-of-three" rule. The Federal Opposition and the Australian Greens oppose abolishing the rule, while some media groups regard a further reduction in TV broadcasting licence fees as a higher priority than changes to cross-media ownership laws.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, DOMAIN.COM.AU, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, 2GB, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, MACQUARIE CAPITAL PTY LTD, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, NINE LIVE PTY LTD, AFFINITY EQUITY PARTNERS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL

DUET investors buoyed by CKI’s $7.3b offer

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 & 24 : 6-Dec-16

Shares in DUET Group closed at $2.74 on 5 December 2016, after reaching an intra-day high of $A2.82. Hong Kong-based Cheung Kong Infrastructure has proposed to pay $A3 per share for the energy infrastructure group, whose assets include the Dampier-Bunbury gas pipeline in Western Australia. However, DUET has noted that the offer is unsolicited and not binding, and there is no certainty that CKI will make a formal bid. Mark Busuttil of JP Morgan says the offer represents full value and a rival bid is unlikely.

CORPORATES
DUET GROUP – ASX DUE, CHEUNG KONG INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, RARE INFRASTRUCTURE, ARGO INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX ARG, UNISUPER LIMITED, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, 4D INFRASTRUCTURE PTY LTD, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, AUSGRID PTY LTD, STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

English tipped to lead NZ after Key quits

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Original article by Luke Malpass, Aaron Patrick
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 6-Dec-16

New Zealand’s Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bill English is likely to become the country’s next prime minister. Commentators say that his political views are close to those of outgoing Prime Minister John Key, who has resigned. Other possible candidates include Economic Development Minster Steven Joyce, Minister of State Services Paula Bennett and Police Minster Judith Collins.

CORPORATES
NEW ZEALAND. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEW ZEALAND. DEPT OF POLICE, NEW ZEALAND. DEPT OF STATE SERVICES, NEW ZEALAND. DEPT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NATIONAL PARTY OF NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NEW ZEALAND. TREASURY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED

ASIC to scrutinise Bellamy’s trading

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Original article by Damon Kitney, Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 22 : 6-Dec-16

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission will undertake an informal review of trading in the shares of Bellamy’s Australia prior to the release of an earnings update on 2 December 2016. The infant formula group’s shares fell by 43.52 per cent in response to the bearish guidance, and the stock shed another 4.23 per cent on 5 December. Bellamy’s had left its earnings guidance unchanged at the AGM in mid-October.

CORPORATES
BELLAMY’S AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX BAL, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, KATHMANDU HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX KMD, BLACK PRINCE PRIVATE FOUNDATIONRST, ELLERSTON CAPITAL PTY LTD

Producers spot better returns

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 21 : 6-Dec-16

Data from EnergyQuest shows that the spot price of gas in Adelaide rose to nearly $A10 per gigajoule in the September 2016 quarter, while the spot price in Sydney and Brisbane also rose. In contrast, the LNG netback price at the Wallumbilla processing hub in Queensland fell to around $A6 per gigajoule. EnergyQuest expects LNG producers to capitalise on the rise in gas prices by redirecting more of their output to the domestic market.

CORPORATES
ENERGYQUEST PTY LTD, QUEENSLAND CURTIS LNG PTY LTD, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC

Parties split over Adani coal loan

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 6-Dec-16

The Carmichael coal and rail project had received initial approval from the Queensland and Federal Governments, but the funding for the project has not yet been arranged. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has requested the Federal Government to provide Adani with a loan of up to $A1 billion from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund. The Australian Labor Party says the private project should not be subsidised with public funds.

CORPORATES
ADANI MINING PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF MINES AND ENERGY

Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine’s comment on the rise in Roy Morgan November Business Confidence

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Original article by Michele Levine, Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Dec-16

Business Confidence increased for the third straight month, up by 0.5pts (+0.4%) in November to 116.7. This is the highest Business Confidence has been since the Federal Election in July when the Turnbull Government was returned with a majority of only one seat. Analysing the movement of Business Confidence across the States in November shows a strong increase in Queensland being the main driver of this month’s increase – now clearly above the national average along with a slight improvement in Victoria while Tasmania continues to have the highest Business Confidence of any State. In contrast Business Confidence is virtually unchanged in Australia’s largest State of New South Wales and is down significantly in the mining State of Western Australia – now clearly the lowest of any State. Business Confidence in South Australia also fell for the second straight month following the State’s widespread blackout in late September and is now in line with the national average. In terms of industries, the most confident industries in November were the Retail trade industry heading into the most important time of the year over the Christmas-New Year’s sales period, Accommodation and food services which also traditionally benefits from the Summer holiday period and Public administration, safety and security – all of these industries were more than 10% above the national average.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Business Confidence up slightly in November to 116.7 (up 0.4%); highest since Federal Election

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 6-Dec-16

Roy Morgan Research’s Business Confidence rose 0.4% to 116.7 in November 2016. The small rise in Business Confidence occurred as the Australian All Ordinaries ended November at 5,502.4 (up 100.0pts from October 31). This month’s small rise in Business Confidence means Business Confidence is now just above the 6-year average (116.6) and above the current ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating of 115.4. Businesses are increasingly confident about their prospects over the year ahead, with net expectations of business performance over the next 12 months up 10.3ppts to 30.3pts in November and net views of whether the next 12 months will be a "good/bad time to invest" now 20.5pts (up 2.3ppts).

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