Author: roymorgansocial

Potato chips and soft drinks: doubly irresistible?

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Nov-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 42 per cent of Australians aged 14+ (or 8.2 million people) ate potato chips in any given seven days during the year to June 2015, compared with 41 per cent in the previous 12 months. The survey also shows that 62 per cent of potato-chip snackers also consumed some kind of soft drink during the period, compared with the national average of 48 per cent. Some 62 per cent of people who eat corn chips and 70 per cent of those who eat other salty snacks such as Twisties and Cheezels also consume soft drinks in an average seven days, as do 65 per cent of those who snack on chocolate bars.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Farmer, backpackers dead in ‘unstoppable’ fire

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Original article by Paige Taylor, Andrew Burrell, Sonia Kolbacher
The Australian – Page: 4 : 19-Nov-15

Four people have died in a bushfire near Esperance in Western Australia, which has engulfed about 117,000 hectares of land in the farming region during the grain harvest. Farmer and voluntary firefighting co-ordinator Kym Curnow died in the firestorm, while the other three casualties are believed to be Germany backpackers. Department of Fire & Emergency Services commissioner Wayne Gregson has described the fire conditions as "catastrophic" and has warned that the region faces similar conditions in the near-term.

CORPORATES
WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

Unions launch onslaught on super changes

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 19-Nov-15

The ACTU has appealed to the public to oppose the Australian Government’s plans to make changes to the superannuation system. ACTU president Ged Kearney said people will be alerted to the alleged threat to their super savings via automated telephone calls and radio advertisements. She claims that the changes would give the big banks more control over super.

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

RIAA calls to end quarterly reporting

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Original article by Sally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 33 : 19-Nov-15

The majority of listed companies release quarterly earnings reports and guidance updates, but Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) CEO Simon O’Connor says their main priority should be pursuing strategies that will create long-term value for investors. A policy paper to be released on 19 November 2015 also presents the RIAA’s views on issues such as environmental and social governance risks, ethics and executive remuneration.

CORPORATES
RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION AUSTRALASIA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA, VOLKSWAGEN AG, UNISUPER LIMITED, CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING UNIONS’ SUPERANNUATION FUND, FIRST STATE SUPER, VICSUPER PTY LTD, SUNSUPER PTY LTD, BLACKROCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT

South32 reviews tailings dams after BHP’s Brazil disaster

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 19-Nov-15

South32 has told shareholders at its 2015 annual meeting that safety is a priority at its mining operations. CEO Graham Kerr said the BHP Billiton spin-off is undertaking a review of its own tailing dams in the wake of the fatal incident at BHP’s Samarco iron ore joint venture in Brazil. He has also indicated that South32 may commission an independent review of its tailings dams. South32 shares closed 3.1 per cent lower at $A1.24 on 18 November.

CORPORATES
SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA

Fed, China fears hit iron ore, copper

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Original article by Jacob Greber, Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 13 : 19-Nov-15

The latest downturn in the iron ore price will put pressure on Australia’s terms of trade as Treasurer Scott Morrison prepares to release a Budget update in late 2015. Budget forecasts in May were based on an average iron ore price of $US48 per tonne in 2015-16. Although the price of the steel input rebounded to around $US60 in July, it has fallen to $US45.58 in mid-November. Slower growth in wages will also impact on government revenue.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, DELOITTE ACCESS ECONOMICS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, BLOOMBERG LP

Investor challenges BHP: cut dividend

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Original article by Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 19-Nov-15

BHP Billiton’s progressive dividend policy is likely to come under scrutiny at its 2015 annual meeting in Perth. Some fund managers do not expect BHP to back down on its policy despite growing pressure to do so, but Anton Tagliaferro of Investors Mutual says it was introduced during the resources boom and the downturn in commodities markets means it is no longer appropriate.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, INVESTORS MUTUAL LIMITED, HAMILTON WEALTH MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, ALPHINITY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, ARNHEM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Fortescue tips iron ore demand, as price falls

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Original article by Peter Ker, Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 19-Nov-15

The iron ore price fell by 4.5 per cent to $US45.68 per tonne on 18 November 2015. However, Fortescue Metals Group CEO Nev Power is upbeat about the outlook for iron ore, saying there are signs of an improvement in China’s housing construction market. Power adds that Fortescue is not "actively" considering asset sales at present, and says Chinese steel mills are more likely to look at investing in the sector when the iron ore price begins to rebound.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ATLAS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, BC IRON LIMITED – ASX BCI, MOUNT GIBSON IRON LIMITED – ASX MGX, GRANGE RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GRR, ROY HILL IRON ORE PTY LTD, VALE SA, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA, CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INCORPORATED, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

Aldi favours shock and awe over surprise in SA invasion

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 19-Nov-15

Germany-based Aldi aims to open 16 stores in South Australia during 2016, with the first store slated to open on 3 February. Tom Kierath of Morgan Stanley forecasts that Aldi will boast a market share of about five per cent within 12 months of entering the state’s grocery sector. More than 35 per cent of Australians now shop at an Aldi store in an average four-week period, according to a survey by Roy Morgan Research. Aldi will also expand into Western Australia in 2016.

CORPORATES
ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, IGA, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS

NRL clubs threaten breakaway over TV

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 19-Nov-15

The National Rugby League (NRL) faces a potential split over the issue of pay-TV broadcasting rights, with some teams warning that they could withdraw from the league if a deal is not finalised. The NRL had been negotiating a new deal with Fox Sports and Telstra, but it is believed to have canvassed interest from Singtel Optus, which recently secured exclusive Australian rights to English Premier League matches.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE COMMISSION LIMITED, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC