Author: roymorgansocial

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence up 2% to 116.3 – highest in 18 months

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Jun-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose by two per cent to 116.3 in the week ended 28 June 2015, reaching its highest level in 18 months. This builds on the positive reaction by consumers from the Federal Budget, and puts confidence firmly on an upward trajectory. The sub-index for economic conditions in the next year rose by 5.7 per cent, while the sub-index for a "good time to buy a household item" rose by 2.1 per cent, to its highest level in two years.

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

TripAdvisor for property agents raises $6 million

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Original article by Paul Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 30-Jun-15

South Africa-based Hollard Investments will provide some $A6m of funding to real estate website OpenAgent.com.au and gain a seat on the start-up’s board. The website allows consumers to rate the performance of real estate agents and compare statistics on property sales. OpenAgent.com.au has previously raised $A2m from a number of angel investors.

CORPORATES
OPENAGENT.COM.AU, HOLLARD INVESTMENTS BV, TRIPADVISOR LLC, TRULIA INCORPORATED, McKINSEY AND COMPANY, HOLLARD FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD, GREENSTONE LIMITED

Prosperity more at risk than politicians admit

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 30-Jun-15

Australia’s economic growth may be headed for a "new normal" of 2.75 per cent or three per cent, according to former Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson. Speaking at a leadership forum in Canberra, Parkinson cast doubt on predictions that growth would rebound to its long-term average of 3.5 per cent. Grattan Institute CEO John Daley backed Parkinson, saying the Federal Government was assuming "an awful lot of things" will go right in its rosy predictions.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, GRATTAN INSTITUTE, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Banks among those at risk of downgrade

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Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 30-Jun-15

Citigroup has identified a number of Australian companies that could potentially issue earnings downgrades during the upcoming reporting season. They include Myer Holdings, BlueScope Steel, Fairfax Media, Bank of Queensland and Boart Longyear. Several companies have already issued earnings downgrades, including Flight Centre, Woolworths and SEEK. However, Citigroup believes that Caltex Australia and Wesfarmers could upgrade their earnings expectations.

CORPORATES
CITIGROUP PTY LTD, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, BANK OF QUEENSLAND LIMITED – ASX BOQ, BOART LONGYEAR LIMITED – ASX BLY, FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX FLT, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTX, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, PACIFIC BRANDS LIMITED – ASX PBG, MONADELPHOUS GROUP LIMITED – ASX MND, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, APN NEWS AND MEDIA LIMITED – ASX APN, SOUTHERN CROSS MEDIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX SXL, REECE AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX REH, McMILLAN SHAKESPEARE LIMITED – ASX MMS, TRADE ME GROUP LIMITED – ASX TME, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, SPARK NEW ZEALAND LIMITED – ASX SPK, ECHO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LIMITED – ASX EGP, GWA GROUP LIMITED – ASX GWA, NEXTDC LIMITED – ASX NXT, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC

L-NP vote up 1% as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten under controversy for his role in the AWU ‘affair’ and caught out on a lie – however ALP would still win a Federal Election

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Morgan Poll Update – Page: Online : 29-Jun-15

A multi-mode Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention has found that support for the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis has risen by one per cent to 46.5 per cent. The poll, which was carried out on the weekends of 20-21 and 27-28 June 2015, also shows that the Coalition’s primary vote has risen by 1.5 per cent to 39 per cent, while the Roy Morgan Government Confidence Rating is unchanged at 98.5 points. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan notes that support for the Australian Labor Party has fallen after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten admitted to lying about his support for former prime minister Julia Gillard just before she was deposed two years ago.

CORPORATES
MORGAN POLL, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN WORKERS’ UNION-FEDERATION OF INDUSTRIAL, MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO TRADE UNION GOVERNANCE AND CORRUPTION, CLEANEVENT PTY LTD, SPOTLESS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SPO, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ABC TV

Consumer satisfaction with banks equals record high in May but age groups differ

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

A Roy Morgan Research Consumer Banking Satisfaction Report shows that the satisfaction level of the personal customers of Australia’s banks rose by 0.1 per cent to 82.9 per cent in May 2015, equal to the 20-year high. The Commonwealth Bank had the highest customer satisfaction rating of the four major banks, at 82.5 per cent, but Westpac was the top-rated bank in terms of main financial institution (84.2 per cent). The survey also shows that the 70+ age group has the highest level of customer satisfaction at 88.8 per cent, while the 35-59 age group has the lowest level of satisfaction, at 80 per cent.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH 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, TEACHERS MUTUAL BANK LIMITED

Woolworths serves up Thomas Dux

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 19 : 30-Jun-15

Australian-listed Woolworths has declined to comment on reports that it is seeking a buyer for its chain of Thomas Dux stores. However, it is believed to be aiming for a sale price of $A10m-$A20m for the grocery chain, which specialises on gourmet foods and comprises 10 outlets. Woolworths Holdings is seen as a possible buyer for the chain, although the South Africa-based group has denied that it has made overtures regarding Thomas Dux.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, THOMAS DUX GROCER, WOOLWORTHS HOLDINGS LIMITED, DAVID JONES LIMITED, ABOUT LIFE PTY LTD, JONES THE GROCER, L CAPITAL ASIA, LVMH MOET HENNESSY LOUIS VUITTON SA, BRIGHT FOOD GROUP COMPANY LIMITED, MANASSEN FOODS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SIMON JOHNSON PURVEYOR OF QUALITY FOODS PTY LTD, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES

GWA Group cuts earnings guidance

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Original article by Tim Binsted
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 30-Jun-15

GWA Group has advised that it will write down the value of the Gliderol garage doors business by around $A25m in its 2014-15 accounts. GWA has agreed to sell the business to Reliance Doors for about $A7m, after buying it for $A42m in 2010. Meanwhile, GWA now anticipates that its trading EBIT for the financial year will be within the range of $A67m to $A69m, compared with earlier guidance of about $A70m.

CORPORATES
GWA GROUP LIMITED – ASX GWA, GLIDEROL ROLLER DOORS PTY LTD, RELIANCE DOORS PTY LTD, DUX HOT WATER, BRIVIS, CAROMA INDUSTRIES LIMITED, GAINSBOROUGH, FOWLER, HUNTER GREEN PTY LTD

South32 may be a target

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 30-Jun-15

X2 Resources is estimated to have access to about $US13bn worth of equity and debt to finance acquisitions in the resources sector. BHP Billiton spin-off South32 is regarded as a potential target for X2, which is headed by former Xstrata CEO Mick Davis. South32 shares have shed around 20 per cent since the demerger, and it could well become a takeover target if the downturn is sustained. Glencore is also seen as a possible bidder for South32.

CORPORATES
X2 RESOURCES PARTNERS LP, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, GLENCORE PLC, NOBLE GROUP LIMITED, TPG CAPITAL LP, BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, CITIGROUP INCORPORATED, LIBERUM CAPITAL LIMITED, XSTRATA AG

Grexit fears wipe $38b from ASX

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Original article by Vesna Poljak, Lisa Murray
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 30-Jun-15

The Australian dollar and the domestic sharemarket were sold down on 29 June 2015, as Greece’s debt crisis deepened and Chinese shares fell. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 was down 123 points or 2.2 per cent at 5,422.5, while the dollar fell to $US0.7643. Kapstream Capital’s Kumar Palghat says investors can expect more volatility in financial markets, while federal Treasurer Joe Hockey says there will be minimal impact on Australia if Greece leaves the eurozone.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, KAPSTREAM CAPITAL PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, GREECE. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, PEOPLE’S BANK OF CHINA, SHANGHAI COMPOSITE INDEX, CHINEXT COMPOSITE INDEX, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, PM CAPITAL LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, UNITED STATES. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, AQUASIA PTY LTD