Melbourne Cup and Emirates a sponsorship triumph

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Oct-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 4.7 million Australians (or 24.5 per cent of the population) associate principal partner and naming-rights sponsor Emirates with the Melbourne Cup. The survey, which was carried out in the year to June 2015, also shows that 47 per cent of Australians who say they "always watch" the Melbourne Cup on TV associate Emirates with the race, while 37 per cent of occasional viewers are aware of the link. In contrast, 15.7 per cent of the population associate the Australian Open Tennis’s major sponsor Kia with the tournament and 10.8 per cent associate Toyota with the AFL.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, THE EMIRATES MELBOURNE CUP, EMIRATES AIRLINES, AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS, KIA MOTORS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, THE A LEAGUE PTY LTD, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, COMMOTION SYSTEMS, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, AUSTRALIAN FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX, FOSTER’S GROUP LIMITED, SKY CHANNEL PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED MOTOR INSURERS LIMITED, RACING VICTORIA LIMITED, VICTORIA RACING CLUB LIMITED

Penalty rates are real money for real people

Original article by Jo-Anne Schofield
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 63 : 29-Oct-15

There is pressure from employers in Australia’s hospitality and tourism sectors to reduce weekend penalty rates, but such a move would be unfair to workers. They often earn close to the minimum wage. Employers claim that the reduction in penalty rates would have beneficial effects, but their arguments are flawed.

CORPORATES
ACTU, VICTORIAN TRADES HALL COUNCIL, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, TOURISM ACCOMMODATION AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, UNITED VOICE

Fed leaves rates on hold, preps for potential December lift

Original article by
The Age – Page: Online : 29-Oct-15

The Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting in late October 2015 has resulted in US interest rates being left unchanged. The central bank’s monetary policy statement noted that the US economy is expanding at a "moderate pace", while jobs growth has slowed. The statement omitted the previous month’s reference to the potential impact of global risks on the US economy. BlackRock’s Russ Koesterich says a rate cut remains possible in December.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, BLACKROCK INCORPORATED, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF RICHMOND, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, REUTERS HOLDINGS PLC

Bar Schweppes – for bespoke Schweppes cocktails at 386 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Oct-15

Bar Schweppes will be open for a limited time at 386 Flinders Lane in the Melbourne CBD. Register online to visit Bar Schweppes between 29 October and 7 November 2015 to experience the classic cocktail bar scene of London. Check out the cocktail menu before you leave home.

CORPORATES
BAR SCHWEPPES

Botten unfazed by overtures from Woodside

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 29-Oct-15

Oil Search CEO Peter Botten says the group’s healthy balance sheet and strong growth prospects means it can focus on expanding its business rather than the spurned takeover offer from Woodside Petroleum. Botten adds that Oil Search would be open to a takeover offer that was appropriately priced, and he anticipates further merger activity in the oil and gas sector. He also forecasts that the oil price will remain at around its current level in the near-term.

CORPORATES
OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, MARUBENI CORPORATION

Call for suburbs to grow up, not out

Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 58 : 29-Oct-15

Changes must be made to zoning rules for established suburban areas in Melbourne. Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne has announced a review of rezoning decisions made by predecessor Matthew Guy, but he must proceed cautiously because of possible opposition from municipal councils. Leonard Teplin of real estate agency Marshall White says denser residential development is needed in suburbs to accommodate population growth.

CORPORATES
VICTORIA. DEPT OF TRANSPORT, PLANNING AND LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE, MARSHALL WHITE AND COMPANY PTY LTD, MIRVAC GROUP – ASX MGR

VET’s ‘poor cousin’ status must end

Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 29-Oct-15

The Federal Government should increase funding for vocational education and training (VET), says Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott. She told the Higher Education Summit on 28 October 2015 that VET is as important as tertiary education and should be treated accordingly. Peter Noonan, a professorial fellow with the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University, advocates the introduction of a universal loan scheme for students and apprentices.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY. MITCHELL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION POLICY

Aussie dives as third-quarter inflation figure surprises

Original article by Mark Mulligan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 34 : 29-Oct-15

The Australian dollar was buying $US0.7119 late in trading on 28 October 2015, after starting the session above $US0.72. The currency fell sharply in response to official data showing that the headline and core inflation rates were lower than forecast in the September quarter, which may strengthen the case for further monetary policy easing. Paul Dales of Capital Economics says an interest rate cut is possible in November.

CORPORATES
CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Nine to launch new lifestyle channel and stream all channels online 24/7

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 29-Oct-15

Nine Entertainment Company has used its annual "upfronts" to reveal plans to invest in Australian productions in 2016 after ending its content deal with US-based Warner Bros. Nine will also launch its fourth free-to-air channel on 26 November 2015, with 9Life to focus on lifestyle content. Meanwhile, the 9Jumpin catchup service will be replaced with a live streaming service called 9Now, which will include online streaming of Nine’s TV channels.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WARNER BROS, SCRIPPS NETWORKS INCORPORATED, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS)

Yield reputation lives, even as growth slows

Original article by Vesna Poljak, James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 35 : 29-Oct-15

Australia’s top listed companies paid a total of $A79bn in dividends for the 2014-15 financial year. Brokers now expect the total payout for 2015-16 to be $A81bn, compared with a consensus forecast of $A85bn following the August 2015 reporting season. Dividend payouts in the banking sector remain strong, but a number of companies in the energy sector have reduced their dividends in the wake of the downturn in the crude oil price.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PARK STUD PTY LTD, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, BANK OF JAPAN