Author: roymorgansocial

Rethink call for two-tier tax

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 11-Feb-15

Employers’ groups have expressed concern about a proposal to reduce the corporate tax rate for small businesses while retaining the existing rate that applies to large companies. Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO Kate Carnell says businesses will face more red tape if the Federal Government implements a "two-tiered" corporate tax system. She has urged the Government to consult the business sector on the issue

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Cochlear amplifies profit result

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Original article by Jessica Gardner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 11-Feb-15

Australian-listed Cochlear has posted a 2014-15 interim underlying net profit of $A71.4m, which is 94 per cent higher than previously. The group’s statutory net profit was 240 per cent higher, while revenue was up 18 per cent at $A438.3m. Shareholders will receive a half-year dividend of $A0.90 per share. Cochlear shares fell by $A0.84 on 10 February 2015, closing at $A86.76

CORPORATES
COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN ETHICAL INVESTMENT LIMITED – ASX AEF, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

More miners steeled for failure

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Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 11-Feb-15

The iron ore price has fallen by 14 per cent so far in 2015, and it was trading at $US61.20 per tonne on 10 February. Andrew Hodge of consulting firm Wood Mackenzie warns that the Koolyanobbing, Carina and Savage River iron ore mines in Australia could potentially be closed if the price remains at around its current level. Wood Mackenzie forecasts that iron ore will average $US70 per tonne in 2015

CORPORATES
WOOD MACKENZIE, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INCORPORATED, MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, GRANGE RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GRR, ATLAS IRON LIMITED – ASX AGO, BC IRON LIMITED – ASX BCI, MOUNT GIBSON IRON LIMITED – ASX MGX, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY AND SCIENCE. BUREAU OF RESOURCES AND ENERGY ECONOMICS

Woolies’ supermarket growth revised

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Original article by Sue Mitchell, Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 11-Feb-15

Shares in Shopping Centres Australasia Property Group have risen by 15 per cent so far in 2015. However, the listed property trust has reported that growth in sales at supermarkets in its shopping centres slowed to 4.2 per cent in the December 2014 quarter. Some analysts believe that this may have implications for the sales growth of grocery giants Coles and Woolworths, which will report their results later in February

CORPORATES
SHOPPING CENTRES AUSTRALASIA PROPERTY GROUP – ASX SCP, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD

A friend’s spare room in Australia or a 4-star resort in Asia?

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Feb-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that 36 per cent of Australians aged 14+ whose last long holiday was domestic chose to stay at the homes of friends or relatives. The survey, which was carried out in the year to December 2014, also shows that 21 per cent opted for paid accommodation such as fully self-contained rental flats, apartments or houses, while 11 per cent stayed at four-star hotels or resorts. In contrast, 33 per cent of Australian holiday-goers whose last long trip was in Asia chose to stay at either four-star hotels or resorts, while 28 per cent opted for standard hotels/motels or resorts

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence: Not-So-Great Expectations

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Feb-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by 0.6 per cent to 111.7 in the week ended 8 February 2015. The modest change likely reflects the positive impact from interest rate cuts, somewhat offset by concerns about the economy and federal government leadership speculation. Confidence in the economic outlook over the next year fell by 3.6 per cent, but expectations of household finances compared with a year ago rose by 1.3 per cent. This sub-index is most correlated with household spending

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

Education may stop backslide

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 11-Feb-15

Australia currently boasts the world’s 19-largest economy, but a PwC report says the nation risks falling to 29th place by 2050. PwC Australia economist Jeremy Thorpe stresses the need for greater emphasis on education and training in order to maintain Australia’s status as one of the world’s 20 largest economies. He says the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines should be a particular focus

CORPORATES
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20), GROUP OF THIRTY (G-30), GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7), NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Credit card firms push cashless world

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Original article by Shaun Drummond
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 10-Feb-15

Credit card companies are determined to eliminate cash from financial transactions. Progress towards this aim has been particularly fast in Australia and developing countries. MasterCard’s president of international markets, Ann Cairns, says half of all MasterCard transactions in Australia are already done through its PayPass system

CORPORATES
MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED, VISA INTERNATIONAL, APPLE INCORPORATED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, SAMSUNG CORPORATION

Foreign property buyers face stiff fees amid crackdown

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 10-Feb-15

The Treasury is investigating a number of cases of suspected illegal residential property acquisitions in Australia. A parliamentary inquiry into the matter issued a report in November 2014 which contains 12 recommendations. The committee recommended the introduction of an administrative fee for foreign buyers of between $A500 and $A1,500 to fund the compliance work of the Foreign Investment Review Board and the Treasury

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSTRALIA. PARLIAMENTARY BUDGET OFFICE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

$A unlikely to take shine off Lovisa

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 10-Feb-15

Lovisa Holdings has posted a 2014-25 interim net profit of $A12.3m, which is 66.2 per cent higher than previously. The fast-fashion jewellery retailer’s sales were 33.3 per cent higher at $A73.3 million. Lovisa’s earnings and sales for the half-year exceeded prospectus forecasts, and Dean Fergie of Cyan Investment Management says it is on track to meet its full-year forecasts. Lovisa shares closed $A0.035 higher at $A2.395 on 9 February 2015

CORPORATES
LOVISA HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX LOV, CYAN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD