Author: roymorgansocial

Economic Issues (38%) still biggest problems facing Australia for new PM Malcolm Turnbull but Terrorism/Wars/ Security/Safety easily World’s biggest problem (30%)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 10-Nov-15

A special Roy Morgan telephone survey, which was carried out from 13-15 October 2015, has found that 38 per cent of Australians aged 14+ regard economic and financial issues as the most important set of problems facing the nation. This is one per cent higher than in July. The survey also shows that 16 per cent of Australians rate religion, immigration and human rights issues as the biggest problem facing the country. Meanwhile, 30 per cent of Australians identified terrorism, war and security issues as the biggest problems facing the world, while 21 per cent nominated environmental issues.

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Chinese rescue Santos

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Original article by Simon Evans, Angela Macdonald-Smith, Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 12 : 10-Nov-15

China-based Hony Capital will initially acquire a 9.9 per cent stake in Santos for $A500m, although its participation in a $A2.5bn rights issue means the private equity firm will invest about $A700m in the oil and gas group in total. Santos investors will be offered new shares at $A3.85 apiece, compared with the group’s closing price of $A5.91 on 6 November 2015. Meanwhile, Clough CEO Kevin Gallagher will become CEO of Santos in early 2016.

CORPORATES
SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, HONY CAPITAL LIMITED, CLOUGH LIMITED, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, PIZZA EXPRESS, SWISSE WELLNESS PTY LTD, BIOSTIME INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LIMITED, SCEPTER PARTNERS, BERNSTEIN AND ASSOCIATES, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, LAZARD PTY LTD, LEGEND GROUP LIMITED, TEMASEK HOLDINGS (PTE) LTD

Burst Brazilian dam likely to stay shut for years; owners face fines

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Original article by Amanda Saunders, Matthew Stevens
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 10-Nov-15

Deutsche Bank’s Paul Young says BHP Billiton may have to reconsider its progressive dividend policy in the wake of a fatal incident at its Samarco iron ore joint venture in Brazil. Deutsche estimates that BHP and joint venture partner Vale could face costs of at least $US1bn ($A1.4bn) arising from the failure of a tailings dam at the mine in the state of Minas Gerais. Young says the Samarco project is unlikely to resume production before fiscal 2019, and it could potentially be closed permanently.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, VALE SA, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, SAMARCO MINERACAO SA

Gold is ‘saving grace’ of miner mid-tier ranks

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 10-Nov-15

A report from PricewaterhouseCoopers shows that the combined market capitalisation of Australia’s 50 largest mid-tier mining companies fell by 1.5 per cent in 2014-15, to $A36.2bn. The "Aussie Mine" report also notes that gold producers accounted for 38 per cent of mid-tier companies’ market capitalisation, following strong growth in revenue. The downturn in the price of coal and iron ore had a significant impact on the revenue and market capitalisation of mid-tier companies in these sectors.

CORPORATES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD

ANZ’s Smith is $10.8m a year man

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 10-Nov-15

The ANZ Bank’s 2015 annual report shows that CEO Mike Smith was paid a cash salary of $A3.3m in 2014-15, while bonuses and an incentives scheme lifted his total remuneration to $A10.8m. In contrast, Commonwealth Bank CEO Ian Narev was paid $A8.32m in total for 2014-15. ANZ CFO Shayne Elliott will succeed Smith at the beginning of 2016, and he is expected to be paid around $A6.5m in total in his first year as CEO.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

Nine CEO puts innovation top of must-do list

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 10-Nov-15

David Gyngell will remain on the board of Nine Entertainment Company after stepping down as CEO. Gyngell. His successor, Hugh Marks, has told Nine’s staff that producing "engaging, relevant content" will remain the media group’s priority, but has stressed the need for Nine to continue to innovate. Issues such as the prospect of cross-media ownership reforms and growing competition from digital media groups will be among his initial challenges.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, RGM ARTISTS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY, MEDIA VENTURE PARTNERS PTY LTD, SOUTHERN STAR CORPORATION, NINE FILMS AND TELEVISION PTY LTD, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN

Airlines reject credit card surcharge gouge claims

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Original article by Shaun Drummond
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 10-Nov-15

Qantas and its Jetstar subsidiary impose a surcharge of between $A7 and $A30 on flights booked via a credit or debit card. However, Qantas’s Andrew Parker estimates that the carrier recovered only about 81 per cent of the full cost of such transactions in 2014-15. Virgin Australia has indicated that its surcharges also do not allow it recover the full cost of credit/debit card transactions. Queensland businessman Klaus Bartosch has rejected the airlines’ claims and has argued that the surcharges are too high.

CORPORATES
QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, JETSTAR AIRLINES PTY LTD, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH, VISA INTERNATIONAL, MASTERCARD AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Your insurer likes to watch

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Original article by Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 10-Nov-15

MLC will undertake a pilot program in which selected life insurance customers will be issued with a device that monitors their fitness and sleeping patterns. Participants will be able to receive rewards for improving their health and fitness, such as a discount on their insurance policy. QBE Insurance Group already has a similar reward scheme for car insurance customers who use a tracking device to monitor their driving habits.

CORPORATES
MLC LIMITED, QBE INSURANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX QBE, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, NIPPON LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, BIG CLOUD ANALYTICS, FITBIT INCORPORATED, NIKE INCORPORATED

Just how big is the Big Green Box going to get?

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Nov-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 50.4 per cent of Australians aged 14+ (9.8 million people) shopped at Bunnings in an average four weeks in the year to June 2015, compared with 46.7 per cent in the previous 12 months. The survey also shows that the proportion of consumers who shop at Masters Home Improvement in an average four-week period has risen from 6.3 per cent to 7.7 per cent in the last year, while Mitre 10 recorded growth of 0.1 per cent to 9.4 per cent. However, Bunnings’ rivals have all attracted proportionally more customers who are interested in gardening.

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

OECD growth forecast cut to 2.6pc from 3pc

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 10-Nov-15

The OECD has downgraded its economic growth forecast for Australia in 2015 from 2.3 per cent to 2.2 per cent. Meanwhile, the economy is expected to expand by 2.6 per cent in 2016, compared with the OECD’s previous forecast of three per cent growth. The OECD’s economic outlook report suggests that Australia’s unemployment rate will remain at around 6.2 per cent in 2016. The OECD has also urged the Federal Government to pursue tax reform, including an increase in the rate and scope of the GST.

CORPORATES
ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA