Author: roymorgansocial

Powder to the people: the world’s top holiday picks among Australian skiers and snowboarders

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

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 4.8 per cent of Australians aged +14 regularly or occasionally go skiing or snowboarding. The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2014, also shows that 46 per cent of skiers/snowboarders say they would like to visit at least one of Australia’s snow areas within the next two years. Some 30 per cent would like to visit Snowfield/High Country destinations in New South Wales, ahead of such destinations in Victoria (19 per cent). Meanwhile, 53 per cent of skiers/snowboarders in NSW/ACT and 47 per cent of those in Victoria cite a home-state destination

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ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

Hockey opens up tax reform

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Original article by Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 10 : 30-Mar-15

The Australian Government’s tax discussion paper has put broad-based tax reform on the agenda if it wins a second term in office. Options examined in the discussion paper include the indexation of income tax thresholds to counter so-called "bracket creep", a zero tax rate for small businesses, an increase in the capital gains tax and changes to the good and services tax. Treasurer Joe Hockey argues that the nation is too reliant on income tax as a source of government revenue

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Foreign suitors tipped to strike again in 2015

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Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 30-Mar-15

A report produced by law firm Gilbert + Tobin shows that offshore buyers were more active in mergers and acquisitions involving Australian-listed companies in 2014. The firm expects a similar level of takeover activity involving offshore groups in 2015, citing factors such as the lower Australian dollar. The real estate, resources and energy sectors in particular are tipped to generate strong interest among offshore investors

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GILBERT AND TOBIN LAWYERSTOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TOLJAPAN POSTROC OIL COMPANY LIMITEDAURORA OIL AND GAS LIMITEDDAVID JONES LIMITEDDEALOGIC HOLDINGS PLCHJ HEINZ COMPANYKRAFT FOODS INCORPORATED

NSW result raises hopes for change

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 30-Mar-15

The New South Wales Coalition is forecast to have 54 seats in the new parliament, compared with 34 for the Australian Labor Party. The re-election of the government led by Premier Mike Baird is likely to strengthen the position of Prime Minister Tony Abbott after the conservative parties lost the Queensland election earlier in 2015. Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott says Baird’s victory demonstrates that voters will support reforms if a sound case for change is presented to them

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NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINETLIBERAL PARTY OF NEW SOUTH WALESNATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTYAUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINETBUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAAUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURYTHE GREENS NSW INCORPORATED

Sydney sales eclipse record for weekend

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Original article by Mercedes Ruehl
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 40 : 30-Mar-15

Sydney’s residential property market boasted an auction clearance rate of 87.5 per cent on the weekend of 28-29 March 2015, according to Domain Group. More than 1,100 homes went under the hammer, with many selling for prices well above their reserve. The preliminary clearance rate in Melbourne was 78.5 per cent, while RP Data’s figures show that the preliminary weighted average clearance rate nationally was 77.5 per cent

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DOMAIN.COM.AUFAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJRP DATA LIMITEDCORELOGIC AUSTRALIA PTY LTDCOOLEY AUCTION SERVICES PTY LTDRAINE AND HORNE PTY LTDBELLE PROPERTY PTY LTDBREEN PROPERTYSAVILLS (AUST) HOLDINGS PTY LTDNELSON ALEXANDERLEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC

Caltex eyes franking credits post Chevron

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 30-Mar-15

Caltex Australia has indicated that its business strategy will not be affected by US-based Chevron’s sale of its 50 per cent stake for $A4.6bn. Chevron sold its long-standing stake in Caltex at $A34.20 per share, compared with the stock’s closing price of $A37.88 on 27 March 2015. Caltex CFO Simon Hepworth says Chevron’s exit from its share register will enhance the group’s ability to provide shareholders with franking credits

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CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTXCHEVRON CORPORATIONGOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTDRIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIOROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLCWOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPLVIVA ENERGY AUSTRALIA LIMITEDOZ MINERALS LIMITED – ASX OZLSANDFIRE RESOURCES NL – ASX SFRNEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCMEVOLUTION MINING LIMITED – ASX EVN

CCA hopes to sweeten sales with Coke Life

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

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) will launch Coke Life on 7 April 2015. The new product is sweetened with a mix of stevia and cane sugar, and CCA executive Barry O’Connell says blind taste tests by himself and other employees failed to distinguish Coke Life from regular Coke. CCA hopes the new product will arrest a decline in sales and profits, but Tom Kierath of Morgan Stanley does not expect any increase in sales to be sustained

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COCA-COLA AMATIL LIMITED – ASX CCLMORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITEDTHE COCA-COLA COMPANYCITIGROUP PTY LTDPEPSI-COLA COMPANY

Stokes’ Seven West poison pill scares some fund managers

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Original article by Dominic White
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 37 : 30-Mar-15

The Kerry Stokes-controlled Seven Group Holdings owns nearly 35 per cent of Seven West Media’s shares. However, Stokes could potentially move to 49 per cent ownership of Seven West in 2016, when $A250m worth of convertible preference shares are due to be redeemed. When interest is taken into account, Stokes will be owed $A350m. The other option for Seven West will be to convert this sum into the company’s shares, which would allow Stokes to increase his holding significantly

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SEVEN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SVWSEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWMFAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

iiNet data points to big start for Netflix

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Original article by Jared Lynch
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 37 : 30-Mar-15

Listed ISP iiNet has reported that Netflix now comprises 15 per cent of its consumer internet traffic, less than a week after launching in Australia. Meanwhile, some estimates suggest that Netflix could account for up to 25 per cent of Australian internet traffic, as many people use a VPN to access the US version of Netflix. Use of Netflix’s streaming video service does not count toward iiNet customers’ monthly data allowance

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IINET LIMITED – ASX IINNETFLIX INCORPORATEDSINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTDFOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTDSEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWMNINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NECFAIRFAX MAGAZINESPRESTO ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTDSTANFETCHTV PTY LTD

Vocation to replace name as part of company remake

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 30-Mar-15

Australian-listed Vocation hopes to put recent turmoil behind it by adopting a new business name. Options are believed to include the name of one of its existing businesses or completely new branding. The group has offloaded several of its vocational education businesses in order to reduce debt, and it is finalising the sale of the VETtrak software company. Stewart Cummins was appointed CEO in late March 2015

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VOCATION LIMITED – ASX VETAVANA EDUCATION PTY LTDREAL INSTITUTE PTY LTDCUSTOMER SERVICE INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIAENDEAVOUR COLLEGE OF NATURAL HEALTHAUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENTAUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF APPLIED EDUCATION PTY LTDVETTRAKWESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBCNATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NABCOMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBASTUDY GROUP INTERNATIONALBAWM GROUP PTY LTDASPIN PTY LTD