Author: roymorgansocial

Nikkei, banks rally lifts ASX to a 2016 high

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Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 11-May-16

The Australian sharemarket posted solid gains on 10 May 2016, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.4 per cent to close at 5,342.8, which is its highest level for the year to date. The Commonwealth Bank was 2.9 per cent higher at $A78 and Qantas advanced 2.4 per cent to end the session at $A3.41. However, Rio Tinto eased 2.9 per cent to finish at $A45.40 and Sims Metal Management shed 10.1 per cent to close at $A8.45.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, SIMS METAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX SGM, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SCENTRE GROUP – ASX SCG, LEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC, VICINITY CENTRES – ASX VCX, INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED – ASX IPL, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED, IG MARKETS LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX, NIKKEI 225 INDEX

Queensland shopping centres: a Helix Personas perspective

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-May-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 3.6 million Australians aged 14+ buy something at a Queensland shopping centre in an average four weeks. The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2015, also shows that Westfield Chermside is the state’s busiest shopping centre, with 318,000 shoppers buying something in an average four-week period. This is followed by Westfield Garden City (288,000) and Westfield Carindale (257,000). Analysis using Roy Morgan Research’s Helix Personas consumer profiling tool shows that four of Queensland’s 10 busiest shopping centres are most likely to be frequented by members of the hard-working Aussie Achievers community, while three shopping centres are most likely to be frequented by the Metrotechs community.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Rio plans another big Mongolia expansion

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 23 : 10-May-16

The Oyu Tolgoi mine will produce about 500,000 tonnes of copper a year when an underground expansion of the project is completed. Rio Tinto approved the expansion project on 6 May 2016, but Turquoise Hill Resources CEO Jeff Tygesen has flagged further expansion of Oyu Tolgoi by increasing the capacity of the mine’s concentrator. Turquoise Hill has a 66 per cent stake in Oyu Tolgoi, and Rio Tinto in turn is the Canada-based group’s major shareholder.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, TURQUOISE HILL RESOURCES LIMITED

Orica shares dive 12pc as shareholders blast poor result

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Original article by Jared Lynch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 11 : 10-May-16

Mining services group Orica has posted a 2015-16 interim net profit of $A149m, which is 33 per cent lower than previously. The explosives manufacturer’s revenue was 22 per cent lower at $A2.6bn, and its half-year dividend has been reduced from $A0.40 per share to just $A0.205 following a decision to abandon its progressive dividend policy. CEO Alberto Calderon has warned that a significant improvement in commodity markets is unlikely for some time.

CORPORATES
ORICA LIMITED – ASX ORI, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED

How local visionary Grundy conquered the world of TV

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 3 : 10-May-16

Australia media industry identities have paid tribute to pioneering TV producer Reg Grundy, who has died at his home in Bermuda at the age of 92. Grundy produced many of Australia’s best-known game shows and dramas, including "Wheel of Fortune", "The Price Is Right", "Prisoner" and "Neighbours". He started his media career as the host of radio and TV shows before opting to become a TV producer.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, RG CAPITAL HOLDINGS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

APN, Fairfax mulling NZ assets merger

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 10-May-16

APN News & Media will outline details of a proposal to spin off its New Zealand division at its AGM on 11 May 2016. The listed newspaper, radio broadcasting and outdoor advertising group also intends to undertake a capital raising worth up to $A200m. Meanwhile, Fairfax Media has downplayed speculation that it is also looking at demerging its NZ operations. However, Grant Samuel is said to have been commissioned to advise on a potential merger of the two groups’ NZ businesses. The firm is also advising APN on its demerger and capital raising.

CORPORATES
APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NZME, FAIRFAX NEW ZEALAND LIMITED, GRANT SAMUEL AND ASSOCIATES PTY LTD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

Volatile $A could hit US67c as further downside plays out

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Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 10-May-16

Some currency experts have suggested that the recent sharp downturn in the value of the Australian dollar could continue. Mark Walton of BNP Paribas says the currency could fall to around $US0.67 if the Reserve Bank pursues further monetary policy easing. However, Robert Rennie of Westpac says the currency’s sell-off has been "rapid and unexpected", and he adds that it may find support from investors at around the $US0.73 to $US0.735 level.

CORPORATES
BNP PARIBAS SA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, FITCH RATINGS LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION

Tables turn: Now Labor promises to protect AAA rating

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 10-May-16

Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen will address the National Press Club on 10 May 2016, where he will deliver his reply to the Australian Government’s Budget. Bowen will indicate that if the Opposition wins the federal election it will release the mid-year budget update by October, rather than in December. He will stress the need to reduce the Budget deficit in order to ensure that Australia retains its coveted triple-A credit rating. He will also question the merits of the Government’s proposal to progressively reduce the corporate tax rate.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Australian April unemployment is 10.4% for third consecutive year. Under-employment steady at 7.7%

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-May-16

A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate fell by 0.6 per cent to 10.4 per cent in April 2016. The number of people in the workforce has fallen by 134,000 to 12,810,000 (although up 183,000 since April 2015), and 11,476,00 Australians are employed (up 158,000 in the last 12 months). Meanwhile, the number of people who are under-employed has fallen by 149,000 in the last 12 months to 988,000 (7.7 per cent of the workforce). The official unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent in March 2016. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates to a record low 1.75 per cent shows the weakness the overall Australian economy is facing. The ongoing job losses throughout the economy also provide clear evidence that the ABS unemployment figures released monthly lack credibility. ABS estimated unemployment of only 5.7 per cent in March, indicating a booming Australian economy, which is most certainly not reflected in other measures and clearly not believed by the RBA, which is once again cutting interest rates.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, QUEENSLAND NICKEL PTY LTD, DICK SMITH HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX DSH, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ELECTROLUX PTY LTD

Securing ‘Technology Early Adopters’ the key to success in the new banking environment

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-May-16

A Roy Morgan Research Single Source survey, which was carried out in the year to February 2016, has found that 18.7 per cent of Australians can be classified as "Technology Early Adopters". However, Early Adopters are always the first to purchase and use new technologies and generally set the trend for the broader market to follow, making it crucial for banks to understand how they are performing among this group. The survey shows that Teachers Mutual Bank has the highest proportion of Technology Early Adopters (29.2 per cent of its customers, which is 56 per cent higher than the population average). Of the four major banks, Westpac is eight per cent above the average, followed by the ANZ and CBA (both seven per cent above the average).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, TEACHERS MUTUAL BANK LIMITED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, BENDIGO BANK, HERITAGE BANK LIMITED – ASX HBS, BANK OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA LIMITED, ING DIRECT, CITIBANK PTY LTD