Author: roymorgansocial

ABC boss warns of cheap imports

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Original article by Sid Maher
The Australian – Page: 6 : 4-Feb-16

The ABC’s outgoing MD Mark Scott has questioned whether profit-driven Australian media companies will continue to produce local content. Speaking at the ABC’s annual parliamentary showcase in Canberra, he argued that the public broadcaster is best-placed to deliver such content, and urged all political parties to support it. Scott also noted that low-cost international content presents a threat to local content.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, APPLE INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, RADIO NATIONAL

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence on the crawl – down 1pt to 111.2

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Feb-16

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by one per cent to 111.2 in the week ended 31 January 2016, and it has fallen by 4.4 per cent over the last four weeks. On average, confidence was 2.1 per cent lower in January compared with December. It is unusual for confidence to fall in January, and this is the first time since 2008 that the year has started on a pessimistic note. The sub-index on "financial situation compared to a year ago" has fallen by 2.9 per cent, although the sub-index on "economic conditions in the next 12 months" has risen by 2.3 per cent.

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

Nuts for Nutella (and other choc/hazelnut spreads)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 2-Feb-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 6.4 per cent of Australians aged 14+ ate Nutella or a similar brand of choc/hazelnut spread in an average week during the year to September 2015. Meanwhile, 40.2 per cent of Australians ate Vegemite, Marmite and Promite while 31.5 per cent ate jam, conserves or marmalade, and 30 per cent ate peanut butter. The survey also shows that choc/hazelnut spreads are most popular with girls aged 14-17, with 18.6 per cent of them eating these products in any given seven days.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

5.5 million Australians would unlock mobile phone to advertising (for a discount)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 2-Feb-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 37 per cent of Australian smartphone users aged 14+ would be interested in receiving ads on their mobile phone if it reduced their bill. The survey, which was carried out in the year to September 2015, also shows that 47 per cent of Dodo’s smartphone customers would be interested in an ad-supported quid pro quo (47 per cent), followed by customers of Vodafone (44 per cent), Amaysim (43 per cent) and Optus (40 per cent).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, DODO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, VODAFONE AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AMAYSIM AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX AYS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, LEBARA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BOOST MOBILE, IINET LIMITED, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, VIRGIN MOBILE (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, UNLOCKD PTY LTD

Four malls to go in Vicinity sale

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Original article by Mercedes Ruehl, Nick Lenaghan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 3-Feb-16

JLL will market four shopping centres on behalf of Australian-listed Vicinity Centres, which revealed plans for up to $A1bn of asset sales in late 2015. The properties to be sold are the Forest Hill Chase and Brimbank shopping centres in Victoria and the Clifford Gardens and Toombul shopping centres in Queensland. Vicinity boasts some $A23 billion worth of assets under management.

CORPORATES
VICINITY CENTRES – ASX VCX, JONES LANG LASALLE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, FOREST HILL CHASE, BRIMBANK SHOPPING CENTRE, CLIFFORD GARDENS SHOPPING CENTRE, TOOMBUL SHOPPING CENTRE, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SCENTRE GROUP – ASX SCG, THE BLACKSTONE GROUP LP, CHALLENGER LIMITED – ASX CGF, NOVION PROPERTY GROUP

7–Eleven appoints fraud investigator

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Original article by Patrick Hatch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 3-Feb-16

Australian convenience store chain 7-Eleven has hired an unnamed former police detective with expertise in fraud and economic crime in the wake of the wage exploitation scandal. The ex-police officer will investigate allegations of fraud and breaches of workplace laws at 7-Eleven stores. The Fair Work Ombudsman has also taken legal action against some franchisees, while the Fels Wage Fairness Panel has been established to compensate employees who have been underpaid.

CORPORATES
7-ELEVEN STORES PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK OMBUDSMAN, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Aldi aims to squeeze rivals in SA and WA

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 3-Feb-16

Aldi will open its first supermarkets in South Australia on 3 February 2016, with plans to open 16 by the end of the year. There is much stronger competition in South Australia’s grocery sector than in the eastern states, with only a few percentage points separating the market share of Coles, Woolworths and Foodland. Aldi’s state MD Viktor Jakupec says market research has found that South Australian shoppers are seeking the same value proposition as Aldi customers in the eastern states.

CORPORATES
ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, FOODLAND AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Palmer may be forced to end his lawfare

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Original article by Sarah Elks
The Australian – Page: 5 : 3-Feb-16

Lawyers representing the administrators of Queensland Nickel may order legal action against China-based CITIC to be discontinued, due to concerns about the likely cost of further litigation. The Clive Palmer-backed company launched a $A137.5m civil damages claim against CITIC in 2015, although most of the legal action by Palmer against the Chinese group is being undertaken via Mineralogy. Queensland Nickel’s administrators may also seek to settle litigation over an alleged breach of environmental laws in order to avoid further legal costs.

CORPORATES
QUEENSLAND NICKEL PTY LTD, CITIC LIMITED, MINERALOGY PTY LTD, FTI CONSULTING PTY LTD, SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, SINO IRON PTY LTD, SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, TOWNSVILLE MAGISTRATE’S COURT

NAB forced to delay Clydesdale float after ratings inquiry

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 3-Feb-16

Shares in National Australia Bank spin-off Clydesdale Bank were slated to list on the London Stock Exchange on 2 February 2016. However, NAB has postponed the float by 24 hours after an unnamed ratings agency sought information on Clydesdale’s deposit rating. The request could potentially result in Clydesdale’s credit rating being downgraded, although NAB has stressed that this would have no impact on the UK bank’s financial outlook or its cost of funding.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, CLYDESDALE BANK PLC, MARTIN CURRIE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, ALPHINITY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, MORGAN STANLEY AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, MERRILL LYNCH AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, JP MORGAN AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, CLIME ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Rich BHP dividends face chop

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 3-Feb-16

Shares in BHP Billiton closed 2.2 per cent lower at $A14.92 on 2 February 2016, after Standard & Poor’s reduced its credit rating from "A+" to "A". The ratings agency warned of the potential for a further downgrade if BHP retains its progressive dividend policy amid a downturn in commodity prices. Aberdeen Asset Management’s John Manning expects BHP to adopt a dividend payout ratio, while some observers forecast that its 2015-16 interim dividend will be reduced by 50 per cent to $US0.31 per share.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION, ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, ARGO INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX ARG, AUSTRALIAN FOUNDATION INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED – ASX AFI, BLACKROCK INCORPORATED, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO