Author: roymorgansocial

Big four banks lag in home loan customer satisfaction

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Oct-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that the overall satisfaction level of home loan customers of Australia’s big four banks was 80 per cent in the six months to September 2015. This compares with 78.2 per cent 12 months ago. The Commonwealth Bank (82 per cent) and Westpac (80.8 per cent) had the highest individual satisfaction ratings among home loan customers of the four major banks. However, ME Bank home loan customers have the highest satisfaction rating (92.8 per cent), closely followed by ING Direct (92.7 per cent). Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Bank increased its lead in overall customer satisfaction (82.5 per cent) among the big four banks.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, ME BANK, ING DIRECT, BANK OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BENDIGO BANK, BANK OF MELBOURNE LIMITED

Wind down Masters, Woolworths told

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 22-Oct-15

The Masters Home Improvement joint venture is expected to post a loss of $A236m in the next year, following a loss of $A245m in fiscal 2015. Deutsche Bank estimates that Woolworths could boost its profits by around five per cent by exiting the Masters venture. It could also make a net cash gain of $A161m, while joint venture partner Lowe’s would make a gain of $A80m. Woolworths has invested $A2.2bn in Masters to date.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, LOWE’S COMPANIES INCORPORATED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD

Spending cuts keep coming as BHP Billiton starts strongly

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 & 30 : 22-Oct-15

BHP Billiton has reported that its petroleum division’s output for the September 2015 quarter was 65 million barrels of oil equivalent. The group will reduce the division’s capital expenditure by a further $US200m ($A275m) in 2015-16, to $US2.9bn. Glyn Lawcock of UBS says that while additional cost reductions will be harder to achieve after several years of cutbacks, he believes there is potential for most cost savings. Iron ore, copper and coking coal output exceeded analysts’ forecasts for the quarter.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED

Nine ready to deal with News on NRL

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Original article by Darren Davidson
The Australian – Page: 19 : 22-Oct-15

Nine Entertainment Company recently secured a $A925m deal to broadcast National Rugby League matches from 2018. It includes the Super Saturday match that is currently broadcast exclusively by News Corp Australia-owned Fox Sports. News Corp paid $A530m for the NRL’s pay-TV rights under its current deal, but it is believed to be unwilling to pay as much for the next rights deal unless the Saturday match is included. Nine is said to be willing to negotiate on relinquishing the match.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, FOX SPORTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

APRA puts union super on notice

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Original article by Sally Rose, Joanna Mather, Sally Patten
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1-Dec : 22-Oct-15

Australian superannuation funds will have to ensure that 33 per cent of their directors are independent from mid-2017 under proposed legislation. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s Helen Rowell says the new laws will also require a majority of directors to be independent from mid-2019, unless a super fund can present a strong argument to justify not doing so. Rowell has rejected claims by industry super funds that returns would be lower under the proposed regime.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, INDUSTRY SUPER AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING UNIONS’ SUPERANNUATION FUND, UNISUPER LIMITED, SUNSUPER PTY LTD, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SUPERANNUATION TRUSTEES, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, FINANCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL

Medibank in sights after shock CEO exit

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 & 30 : 22-Oct-15

Some eight per cent of Medibank Private shareholders voted against the health insurer’s remuneration report at its 2015 AGM. Meanwhile, Kieren Chidgey of Deutsche Bank has expressed surprise over the sudden decision of Medibank CEO George Savvides to step down in March 2016. A number of investors have said they should have been consulted about the departure of Savvides, who has been CEO for 14 years.

CORPORATES
MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, VGI PARTNERS PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

Seven to follow viewers into the digital future with streaming

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Original article by Max Mason, Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 22-Oct-15

Seven West Media has revealed its program line-up for 2016 at its annual "upfronts" event. Meanwhile, the media group will begin live streaming of its TV channels online from 3 November 2015, which will be supported by targeted pre-roll video advertisements. Seven West Media will also launch a programmatic advertising service called 7 Screen, as well as an online shopping service that will allow viewers to purchase grocery products that are featured on its TV shows.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, PACIFIC MAGAZINES PTY LTD, YAHOO!7 COMMUNICATIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, OZTAM PTY LTD, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED

Bowen warns on effects test

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Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 22-Oct-15

The Australian Retailers Association, Master Grocers Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry are among the groups that support adding a so-called "effects" test to the Competition Act. However, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen has told an audience of grocers that small businesses would face a huge legal bill if they pursue action under the effects test and fail. Master Grocers Australia CEO Jos de Bruin has dismissed Bowen’s comments as a "scare campaign".

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, MASTER GROCERS’ AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL FARMERS’ FEDERATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Quality over quantity: another customer satisfaction win for Harris Scarfe

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Oct-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that Harris Scarfe has a customer satisfaction rating of 90 per cent among Australians aged 14+ who visited a discount department store in the year to August 2015. Harris Scarfe has now taken out top spot in the Discount Department Store category of the Roy Morgan Research Customer Satisfaction Awards for six consecutive months. Target and Target Country have customer satisfaction ratings of 88 per cent and 87 per cent respectively.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, HARRIS SCARFE HOLDINGS LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, TARGET COUNTRY, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, BEST AND LESS PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD

Half of women who aren’t overweight want to lose weight anyway (but 1 in 4 men who are, don’t)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Oct-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 72 per cent of Australian women aged 18+ say they would like to lose weight, while 56 per cent are actually overweight. The survey, which was carried out in the year to June 2015, also shows that 63 per cent of Australian men are overweight, but 58 per cent agree that they would like to be able to lose weight. Meanwhile, eight per cent of Australian adults buy weight loss or meal replacement products in an average six month period, while 11 per cent of overweight Australian adults buy such products.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED