ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations up slightly to 4.9% in late July – up from 4.8% for the month of June

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Jul-25

The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations were 4.9% for the week of 21-27 July, up 0.1% points from the month of June but down from the peak of 5% in early July. A look at monthly Inflation Expectations for June 2025 shows the measure at 4.8% for the month – an increase of 0.2% points from May and level with the average so far this year (also 4.8%). Looking back over the last year, weekly Inflation Expectations have moved in a band of 4.2% to 5.2% since the start of June 2024 and averaged 4.8%. A look at Monthly Inflation Expectations on a State-based level for June shows mixed results, with increases in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia driving the overall increase. The data for the Inflation Expectations series is drawn from the Roy Morgan Single Source, which has interviewed an average of around 5,300 Australians aged 14+ per month over the last decade, and includes interviews with 4,051 Australians aged 14+ in June 2025.

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

Taking wind out of Bowen’s sails

Original article by Paul Garvey, Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 30-Jul-25

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has revealed that the federal government will expand its capacity investment scheme by 25 per cent, to 40 gigawatts. However, analysis by Rystad Energy shows that no wind farm projects that will be part of the national electricity market commenced construction during the first six months of 2025. There were some new wind farm projects in Western Australia, which is not part of the NEM. Rystad has forecast that renewables will account for 64 per cent of the NEM’s energy by 2030, which is well below the government’s 82 per cent renewable energy target by this date. Government adviser Ross Garnaut has in turned warned that this target will be missed by a "big margin", even with an expanded capacity investment scheme.

CORPORATES
RYSTAD ENERGY AS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged for a third straight week at 86.7 in late July

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Jul-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 86.7 in the week to 27 July; however, Consumer Confidence is 3.6 points above the same week a year ago (83.1), and in line with the 2025 weekly average of 86.5. Analysis by State shows mixed results, with Consumer Confidence up in Victoria and Queensland, but down slightly in New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia. Now 20% of Australians (unchanged) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 44% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 26% (unchanged) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 34% (up 3ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Now just 12% (up 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 28% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 25% (up 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 33% (down 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

IMF upgrades Australian growth forecasts, despite tariffs uncertainty

Original article by Thomas Morgan
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 30-Jul-25

The International Monetary Fund has upgraded its economic growth forecast for Australia in 2025 to 1.8 per cent; its previous forecast issued in April was for GDP growth of 1.6 per cent in the current calendar year. The growth outlook for Australian in 2026 has in turn been upgraded from 2.1 per cent to 2.2 per cent. The IMF has also increased its growth forecasts for the global economy in both 2025 and 2026, although it has cautioned that risks to the outlook remain tilted to the downside.

CORPORATES
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Woodside to run Bass Strait gas venture

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 & 18 : 30-Jul-25

Woodside Energy has struck a deal to assume operational control of the Gippsland Basin joint venture with ExxonMobil in Bass Strait. About 1,200 of ExxonMobil’s employees and contractors will be transferred to Woodside as part of the deal, while the company will be able to develop new gas fields without its long-standing partner. Woodside will also be able to proceed with the development of four new gas fields in the Gippsland Basin, subject to final investment approval; they are estimated to contain up to 200 petajoules of gas.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE ENERGY GROUP LIMITED – ASX WDS, EXXONMOBIL CORPORATION

Steady as we go despite Trump’s 20pc tariff threat

Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 4 : 30-Jul-25

US President Donald Trump has flagged an increase in his ‘liberation day’ baseline tariff to between 15 per cent and 20 per cent. Trump said countries that do not negotiate a special deal with the US will face an increase in the baseline tariff, which was originally set at 10 per cent. Trade Minister Don Farrell says the federal government has yet to be informed of any change in its baseline tariff, and it will assume that this will remain at 10 per cent until the Trump administration advises to the contrary. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox says there is real concern that the nation will face the higher baseline tariff; he adds that tariffs of 15- 20 per cent would have a "real impact", whereas a tariff of 10 per cent would be an "irritant".

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

‘Do the right thing’: ASIC raises pressure on CBA over refund refusal

Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Age – Page: Online : 30-Jul-25

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia is under scrutiny after advising that it will not provide refunds to low-income customers who had been charged high account fees. Westpac and the ANZ Bank have both agreed to provide such refunds to welfare recipients in the wake of an investigation by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. However, the CBA contends that the fees in question were disclosed to customers and charged in accordance with its terms and conditions, although it subsequently indicated that it will consider making ‘goodwill payments’ to some affected customers. ASIC chairman Joe Longo has urged CBA to avoid taking a legalistic approach to the issue, arguing that other major banks are "doing the right thing".

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

Net Promoter Scores for electricity providers on the increase in 2025 after two years of decline

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 30-Jul-25

New data from Roy Morgan shows that improvements in the Net Promoter Scores of electricity providers this year has correlated with a clear drop in switching behaviour. After reaching a peak of -7 in the year to March 2022, the NPS for electricity providers fell consistently over the next two years as surging electricity prices and cost of living concerns faced many Australians. The NPS of electricity providers hit a low of -13 in the year to June 2024. However, NPS have gradually turned around and have improved significantly so far this year, now at -8 in the latest figures to June 2025, indicating that Australians are now increasingly more likely to recommend electricity providers to their friends than they were a year ago. The data shows that 16% of Australian electricity customers switched providers in the year to June 2025; this is down from a high of 18% in December 2024, but still higher than the 14% switching recorded during 2021 and early 2022.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Forrest-backed Greatland loses $1b on guidance

Original article by Mark Wembridge
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 30-Jul-25

Greatland Resources has downgraded its 2025-26 production forecast just one month after listing on the Australian sharemarket. The gold miner had previously expected to produce up to 340,000 ounces of gold in the current financial year, but this will now be within the range of 260,000 to 310,000 ounces. MD Shaun Day has attributed the downgrade to Greatland’s "conservative approach" to guidance. The company’s shares fell 22 per cent to $5.36 on Tuesday, compared with an issue price of $6.60 in the recent IPO. Greatland’s investors include Wyloo, the private company of Andrew and Nicola Forrest.

CORPORATES
GREATLAND RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GGP, WYLOO METALS PTY LTD

Solstice buys high-profile travel magazine

Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 30-Jul-25

Solstice Media has added Australian Traveller magazine to its portfolio of print and online titles. The independent media company will acquire an 80 per cent stake in the publisher of Australian Traveller, and will move to full ownership over the next two years. The deal is part of Solstice Media’s strategy to increase revenue and grow its business. Its other assets include news website The New Daily, which it bought from Industry Super Holdings in late 2024.

CORPORATES
SOLSTICE MEDIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLER MEDIA PTY LTD, THE NEW DAILY, INDUSTRY SUPER HOLDINGS PTY LTD