Author: roymorgansocial

Ten backs regional networks on news

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 21-Jan-16

Ten Network CEO Paul Anderson says the Australian Government’s cross-media ownership reforms should include measures to ensure that regional broadcasters continue to provide local news content. He also cautions that regional broadcasters should not be subject to "onerous and non-commercial obligations" which will not apply to online rivals. The National Party of Australia wants to ensure that regional broadcasters are required to maintain a local presence if media laws are relaxed.

CORPORATES
TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS

Media rules bickering a distraction: Worner

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Original article by Jake Mitchell
The Australian – Page: 19 : 20-Jan-16

The "reach rule" and the "two-out-of-three rule" have been the focus of the Australian Government’s proposed changes to cross-media ownership laws. However, Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner believes that the issue of TV licence fees – which are the world’s highest – should be the highest priority in any reform agenda. He argues that this will encourage TV networks to invest in the industry and local content.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, WIN CORPORATION PTY LTD, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, PRIME MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX PRT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence down again to 113.2 (down 0.9pts)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Jan-16

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by 0.8 per cent to 113.2 in the week ended 17 January 2016, following a 1.9 per cent fall in the previous week. Further losses on the sharemarket amid ongoing concerns about China’s economic growth prospects are likely to have weighed on consumer confidence. The sub-index on the "economic outlook in the next 12 months" fell by 7.5 per cent, and it is now is now at its lowest level since Malcolm Turnbull became Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the sub-index on "finances compared to a year ago" rose by 8.6 per cent.

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

Ratings agency predicts weaker bank profit growth in 2016

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 20-Jan-16

Fitch Ratings warns that Australian banks are likely to face lower growth in earnings in 2016, citing factors such as a rise in bad loans, an increase in the cost of funding and stronger competition in the sector. However, the ratings agency notes that capital raisings in 2015 mean the four major banks are well-placed to handle any increase in bad loans.

CORPORATES
FITCH RATINGS LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

AWU sools watchdog on to Palmer Nickel

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Original article by Sarah Elks, Jared Owens, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 6 : 20-Jan-16

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission has been asked to investigate Queensland Nickel for potential breaches of the Corporations Act. Australian Workers’ Union state secretary Ben Swan has raised concern about the company’s donations to the political party of Clive Palmer, who is Queensland Nickel’s only shareholder. Swan also says Palmer may have been a "shadow director", despite resigning as a Queensland Nickel director in early 2015.

CORPORATES
QUEENSLAND NICKEL PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX AZJ, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, NATIONAL TEXTILES LIMITED, ONE.TEL LIMITED, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY, PALMER UNITED PARTY

Not quite Masters of the (hardware) universe

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Jan-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 7.9 per cent of Australians aged 14+ visited a Masters store in any given four weeks during the year to September 2015. This compares with 2.5 per cent in the year to September 2012. The number of Australians who visited a Mitre 10 store fell from 10.6 per cent to 9.1 per cent over the same period. The survey also shows that Queenslanders (in all locations) are 43 per cent more likely than the average Australian to shop at Masters, followed by Melburnians (41 per cent) and Perth residents (30 per cent).

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MITRE 10 LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, HOME HARDWARE, TRUE VALUE HARDWARE LIMITED

Netflix finishes 2015 reaching 2,728,000 Australians

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Jan-16

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 2,728,000 Australians aged 14+ (13.9 per cent) had access to Netflix at the end of 2015. The subscription video-on-demand service had reached 1,035,000 homes by the end of the year, after launching in Australia in March. However, Netflix’s subscriber growth slowed in the December quarter, after recording average growth of 30 per cent each month between April and September.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED

Masters rollout ‘too aggressive’

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Original article by Patrick Hatch, Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 20-Jan-16

Australian-listed Woolworths and US-based Lowe’s have invested some $A3.48bn in the Masters hardware joint venture since 2009. The 33.3 per cent stake of Lowe’s has a book value of nearly $A900m, and the company has advised that its accounts for the December 2015 quarter will include a write-down of its investment. Meanwhile, Colleen Penhall of Lowe’s says the joint venture partners were too aggressive in their initial approach to opening Masters stores.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, LOWE’S COMPANIES INCORPORATED, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, HYDROX HOLDINGS PTY LTD

RBA tipped to make cuts around mid-year

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Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 20-Jan-16

Data from Citigroup shows that financial markets believe that the Reserve Bank of Australia is now almost certain to reduce the cash rate by 25 basis points in June 2016. There is a 20 per cent chance of a rate cut in February, and a 40 per cent chance of a rate cut in March. Factors such as the downturn in the crude oil price and the uncertain outlook for the Chinese economy are like to influence the central bank’s monetary policy deliberations. The cash rate has remained on hold since May.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, CITIBANK PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Rio eases off its iron ore expansion

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Original article by Matt Chambers
The Australian – Page: 18 : 20-Jan-16

Rio Tinto expects to produce 350 million tonnes of iron ore in Western Australia and Canada in 2016, which is slightly below market forecasts of 355 million tonnes. Total production was 327 million tonnes in 2015, with the Pilbara region accounting for 310 million tonnes. However, Rio had initially flagged Pilbara output of 330 million tonnes. The latest guidance suggests that Rio Tinto may not achieve its Pilbara production target of 335 million tonnes in 2016.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, IRON ORE COMPANY OF CANADA, DEUTSCHE BANK AG