Author: roymorgansocial

Santos seeks bigger chunk of LNG pie

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 18-May-15

Australian-listed Santos may acquire a stake in Papua New Guinea’s P’nyang gas field, which would be used to expand the PNG LNG venture in which the group is already a partner. A final investment decision on the proposed expansion will be made in 2017. Meanwhile, Santos and its partners in a Malaysian oil project have had encouraging results from a drilling program. Santo’s Caldita-Barossa venture is also in the running to supply gas to the Darwin LNG plant if a proposed expansion of the facility proceeds.

CORPORATES
SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION, JX NIPPON OIL AND ENERGY CORPORATION, CONOCOPHILLIPS, SK GROUP, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, CHEVRON CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN PETROLEUM PRODUCTION AND EXPLORATION ASSOCIATION LIMITED, HESS CORPORATION, AWE LIMITED – ASX AWE

Westfield rejig paves way to ‘exciting future’

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Original article by Robert Harley, Su-Lin Tan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 37 : 15-May-15

Westfield Corporation’s remuneration report was approved by more than 91 per cent of votes cast at the annual meeting on 14 May 2015. However, a shareholder questioned whether the company requires two CEOs. Meanwhile, co-CEO Peter Lowy said the board will consider alternatives to the group’s current Australian sharemarket listing and make a recommendation within the next year.’

CORPORATES
WESTFIELD CORPORATION – ASX WFD, AUSTRALIAN SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSOCIATION

Sydney Airport pins hopes on Chinese

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Original article by Matt O’Sullivan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 15-May-15

Trevor Gerber succeeded Max Moore-Wilton as chairman of Sydney Airport on 14 May 2015. Meanwhile, CEO Kerrie Mather has forecast a big rise in Chinese visitors in coming years, citing factors such as increased flights between Australia and China, the free-trade deal between the two nations and the relaxation of visa requirements for Chinese travellers. Sydney Airport also plans to revamp its international terminal’s duty-free facilities.

CORPORATES
SYDNEY AIRPORT – ASX SYD, GEBR HEINEMANN SE & CO KG, THE NUANCE GROUP (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX VAH

AusNet full-year profit dives 87pc on hefty tax charges

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 15-May-15

Australian-listed AusNet Services has posted a 2014-15 after-tax net profit of $A22.6m, which is 87 per cent lower than previously. The result was marred by a payment to the Australian Taxation Office to resolve a tax dispute. Revenue of $A1.83bn rose by 1.9 per cent and EBITDA was 2.9 per cent higher at $A1.05bn. Investors will receive a final distribution of $A0.418 per security.

CORPORATES
AUSNET SERVICES HOLDINGS PTY LTD – ASX ANV, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, CHINA STATE GRID, SINGAPORE POWER LIMITED, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED

Optus gears up for mobile war against Telstra

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Original article by David Ramli
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 15-May-15

Singtel Optus has posted a net profit of $A841m for the year to 31 March, which is 0.7 per cent higher than previously. The telco’s revenue increased by 3.8 per cent to $A8.79bn. Meanwhile, Optus will significantly increase investment in its telecommunications infrastructure. Optus intends to upgrade its mobile network in a bid to take market share from Telstra, while it will also upgrade its fixed-line network amid strong competition from TPG Telecom and iiNet.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS LIMITED – ASX SGT, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, IINET LIMITED – ASX IIN, TPG TELECOM LIMITED – ASX TPM, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, NOMURA SECURITIES COMPANY LIMITED, PRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD

Hockey in iron ore inquiry talks

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Original article by John Kerin, Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 8 : 15-May-15

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon wants a bipartisan parliamentary committee to hold an inquiry into iron ore pricing. There is speculation that any such inquiry could be chaired by Liberal MP Angus Taylor, who has worked as a consultant in the sector. Minerals Council of Australia CEO Brendan Pearson rejects claims by Andrew Forrest that BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto are ramping up production with a view to forcing smaller producers out of the iron ore market, and says there is no need for an inquiry.

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

ResMed falls 18pc as trial boosts patients’ risk of dying

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Original article by Jessica Gardner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 15-May-15

Wilson HTM has changed its recommendation on ResMed from "buy" to "sell" after clinical trials of a sleep apnoea device showed that patients with a heart condition were at greater risk of death when using it. The results of the clinical trial prompted ResMed’s Australian-listed shares to close $A1.52 lower at $A6.73 on 14 May 2015. ResMed notes that the ventilation machine used in the clinical trial accounted for just seven per cent of its revenue in the last financial year.

CORPORATES
RESMED INCORPORATED – ASX RMD, WILSON HTM INVESTMENT GROUP LIMITED – ASX WIG, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Deposits levy to hurt big credit unions’ profit

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Original article by Shaun Drummond
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 15-May-15

The Customer Owned Banking Association believes that the proposed deposits levy will reduce the annual profits of many small credit unions by around seven per cent. CUA estimates that its earnings will be cut by about six per cent, while People’s Choice Credit Union anticipates that its profit will be reduced by 5-7 per cent. The Australian Government will issue its response to the financial system inquiry before deciding whether to proceed with the levy.

CORPORATES
CUSTOMER OWNED BANKING ASSOCIATION, CREDIT UNION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, PEOPLE’S CHOICE CREDIT UNION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

Four reasons why it’s time to buy shares now

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Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 15-May-15

Deutsche Bank says investors should capitalise on the Australian sharemarket’s five per cent decline since late April 2015 and buy stocks that offer value before it rebounds. Deutsche says a number of factors suggest that a pullback was overdue, and it favours non-bank financial stocks such as AMP, IOOF, Challenger and Magellan Financial Group. AMP Capital says global issues could result in further market volatility, although it also expects the Australian bourse to rebound.

CORPORATES
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, IOOF HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX IFL, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, CHALLENGER LIMITED – ASX CGF, MAGELLAN FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED – ASX MFG, COMPUTERSHARE LIMITED – ASX CPU, IRGUNIT COMPANY, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, HENDERSON GROUP PLC – ASX HGG, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

BHP and Rio remain in Aberdeen’s good books

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Original article by Matthew Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 15-May-15

Aberdeen Asset Management’s Robert Penaloza has retained overweight positions in BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, despite the sharp decline in the iron ore price. The head of Australian equities has been actively buying BHP shares since mid-April 2015, and he may continue to buy shares in both of the resources giants. Penaloza notes that their low production costs means BHP and Rio are very resilient when commodities are both rising and falling.

CORPORATES
ABERDEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY