Author: roymorgansocial

Nine pegs back Seven in revenue

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Original article by Michael Bodey
The Australian – Page: 19 : 29-Jan-16

New data shows that the Seven Network boasted a 38.5 share per cent of gross advertising revenue in the second half of 2015, while the Nine Network had a 38.2 per cent share. The Ten Network’s share of free-to-air ad revenue rose by 13 per cent during the half-year, to 23.3 per cent. Seven was also the market leader in terms of full-year ad revenue, with a 39 per cent share. Meanwhile, Seven’s total share of the prime-time viewing audience was 29 per cent in calendar 2015, ahead of Nine (27.8 per cent), Ten (19 per cent) and the ABC (17.8 per cent).

CORPORATES
SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FREE TV AUSTRALIA LIMITED, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, RUGBY WORLD CUP LIMITED

Inflation uptick takes interest rate cut off the table

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 28-Jan-16

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that consumer inflation rose by a higher-than-expected 0.4 per cent in the December 2015 quarter. The annual inflation rate was also above expectations at 1.7 per cent. Financial markets have responded to the inflation data by downgrading the chances of a rise in the cash rate in February to just four per cent. Morgan Stanley’s Daniel Blake says a mid-year rate cut remains on the cards given the CPI data.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, BANK OF JAPAN, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

Fresh food may be spared GST by Coalition

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 28-Jan-16

The issue of tax reform and the GST will be on the agenda of federal Cabinet ministers on 28 January 2018. Increasing the GST to 15 per cent is believed to be the Government’s preferred reform option, although the National Party will oppose any push to extend the GST to fresh food due to concerns that it would particularly affect people on low incomes. The Government has already ruled out broadening the scope of the GST to include healthcare and education.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence down for the third week in a row to 112.2

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 27-Jan-16

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by 0.9 per cent to 112.2 in the week ended 24 January 2016, and is now down 3.6 per cent over the past three weeks. Consumer confidence is now below its long-run average for the first time in almost four months. The recent falls are largely a reflection of ongoing global concerns and financial market volatility. The sub-index on "economic conditions in the next 12 months" has fallen by 13.5 per cent since early December, while the sub-index on "time to buy a major household item" has fallen by 7.9 per cent over the past three weeks.

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

Workers promised fair new industrial regime

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 28-Jan-16

Federal Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has promised that all parties would be consulted on the proposed changes to industrial relations laws. She said on 27 January 2016 that the protection of workers’ rights will not be compromised. In her view, workers need a "strong safety net." The Federal Government is considering the introduction of enterprise contracts for medium-sized businesses.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ACTU

Investors back bid for Woolworths’ Home

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Original article by Catie Low
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 28-Jan-16

Allan Gray MD Simon Mawhinney says a merger between Metcash’s Mitre 10 business and the Home Timber & Hardware division of Woolworths could be a good deal if it was secured at an appropriate price. The future of the Home business is uncertain following Woolworths’ decision to exit the ill-fated Masters Home Improvement joint venture. Metcash has been touted as a potential buyer of Home, and it is said to have initiated talks with Woolworths on such a deal in mid-2015.

CORPORATES
METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, MITRE 10 LIMITED, HOME TIMBER AND HARDWARE, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ALLAN GRAY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, LUMINIS PARTNERS PTY LTD, DANKS HOLDINGS LIMITED, LOWE’S COMPANIES INCORPORATED, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

NAB shareholders back Clydesdale spin-off

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Original article by Sally Rose, Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 18 : 28-Jan-16

National Australia Bank (NAB) will proceed with plans to demerge its Clydesdale Bank subsidiary in the UK, after 98 per cent of shareholders voted in favour of the deal. NAB shareholders will receive 75 per cent of Clydesdale’s shares, with the balance to be offered to institutional investors. However, the latter component of the transaction may be delayed if NAB fails to obtain a satisfactory price for the stock. NAB chairman Ken Henry says the bank’s dividend will not be affected by the sale of Clydesdale.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, CLYDESDALE BANK PLC, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

Retailers hit with 10pc hike in insurance cover

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Original article by Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 28-Jan-16

Figures from commercial insurance comparison website BizCover show that small-to-medium businesses continue to benefit from strong competition in Australia’s insurance market. The retail sector is an exception. An insurance policy for a retail business may cost around $A1,700. A non-retail company would pay $A1,000 for a comparable cover. BizCover’s Small Business Insurance Index rose by five points in the fourth quarter of 2015.

CORPORATES
BIZCOVER PTY LTD, ALLIANZ AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AIG AUSTRALIA, QBE INSURANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX QBE

Execs hail digital TV ratings

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 19 : 28-Jan-16

The Ten Network’s chief ­programming officer, Beverley McGarvey, says the introduction of OzTAM’s digital TV ratings system is an "important step forward" for the media sector. The new Video Player Measurement report has also been welcomed by Steve Weaver, the Nine Network’s director of audience analytics and insights. The new report will provide data on content that is viewed online via the networks’ catch-up services.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, OZTAM PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Future Fund shifts to 20pc cash weighting as global risks grow

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Original article by Jonathan Shapiro
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 18 : 28-Jan-16

The Australian Government’s Future Fund reduced its investment portfolio’s equities holdings from 39 per cent to 31 per cent in 2015. The fund has in turn lifted its exposure to cash holdings to around 20 per cent, or $A24.4bn. CEO David Neal says the fund has taken into account the high-risk global environment and the low yields that currently prevail. The fund posted a return of 8.4 per cent for calendar 2015, although its return for the second half was one per cent.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FUTURE FUND MANAGEMENT AGENCY, CHANT WEST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD