Author: roymorgansocial

China’s iron ore platform could trigger a shift in pricing power

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Alex Gluyas
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 23-Feb-22

The Chinese government is developing a centralised state-backed platform for the nation’s steel industry to buy iron ore, according to a report from Bloomberg. Tyler Broda of RBC Capital Markets says the implications of such a move could be "wide-ranging and material". Vivek Dhar from the Commonwealth Bank adds that a centralised platform could potentially reduce iron ore prices in the medium to longer term. Chinese steel producers have long argued that large iron ore miners hold too much pricing power.

CORPORATES
BLOOMBERG LP, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA

ALP (57%) increases lead over the L-NP (43%) in mid-February as return of Parliament fails to provide a boost

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Feb-22

ALP support is now at 57% (up 0.5% points since late January) cf. L-NP on 43% (down 0.5% points) on a two-party preferred basis, according to the latest Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention conducted during February. The swing to the ALP came as Parliament resumed sitting in early February but there was no let-up for the Government with tough questions for Prime Minister Scott Morrison during an appearance at the National Press Club. A week later sexual abuse survivor, and former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame and former Parliamentary staffer, and alleged rape victim, Brittany Higgins also spoke and had little positive to say about Prime Minister Morrison or the L-NP Government. If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be elected with a similar margin to that won by Harold Holt at the 1966 Federal Election (L-CP 56.9% cf. ALP 43.1%). This Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention and Government Confidence was conducted via telephone and online interviewing of 2,796 Australian electors aged 18+ from January 31 – February 13, 2022.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Australia’s Covid deaths explained

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Kara Monssen
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 23-Feb-22

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that a total of 2,639 people in Australia have died from or with COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Some 2,556 of the deaths up to 31 January 2022 were directly attributed to the coronavirus, while 83 people died from other causes but had the virus at the time of their death. Analysis also shows that people with pre-existing health conditions accounted for nearly 70 per cent of Covid deaths, while the elderly are also over-represented in the mortality figures. Associate Professor James Turner of Monash University says deaths should now be the key metric in Australia, rather than daily case numbers and infection rates.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, MONASH UNIVERSITY

ABC’s login plan to stem exodus fuels privacy fears

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Tom Burton
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 23-Feb-22

The ABC has defended its decision to require mandatory logins for users of its iview platform from 15 March. Amongst other things, the public broadcaster argues that personalised iview services will allow users to receive program recommendations and resume watching a show at any time and on any device. The ABC also claims that a more personalised iview experience could prevent the loss of younger audiences, which it says appear to favour the enhanced platform offerings of international video-on-demand services. However, privacy advocates have expressed concern about the ABC’s push for iview logins.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, IVIEW

Cannon-Brookes bid doesn’t add up, says AGL chief

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 16 : 23-Feb-22

AGL Energy’s CEO Graeme Hunt says a $5bn takeover offer "extremely undervalues" the electricity generator and retailer. He says Brookfield Asset Management and Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes are seeking to buy AGL at a "ridiculously low premium". Hunt has also questioned the bidders’ proposal to fast-track the closure of AGL’s coal-fired power stations, and their claims that this would have no appreciable impact on electricity prices. Meanwhile, former Energy Security Board chair Kerry Schott contends that there would be insufficient grounds for the federal government to intervene and block the deal.

CORPORATES
AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, BROOKFIELD ASSET MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED, ATLASSIAN CORPORATION PLC, ENERGY SECURITY BOARD

Putin gives Russian troops green light to march into Ukraine

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Charles Miranda, Megan Palin
Herald Sun – Page: Online : 23-Feb-22

Russia faces economic sanctions after President Vladimir Putin authorised troops to enter the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, although he has not provided a timeline for their deployment. US President Joe Biden has responded by stating that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is beginning; he added that it is a flagrant violation of international law. The White House’s deputy national security adviser Jon Finer has stated that Washington’s response will be "swift and severe", with the first round of sanctions already in place. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenber in turn says there is every indication that Russia is planning a full-scale attack on Ukraine.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence down slightly by 1.4pts to 101.8 in the third week of February

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Feb-22

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 1.4pts to 101.8 during the third week of February; it is now 7.4pts below the same week a year ago (109.2), but it remains just above the 2022 weekly average of 101.5. Consumer Confidence this week was down around the country, with the largest decreases in NSW and Tasmania; however, Victoria bucked the trend, with Consumer Confidence up 3pts (107.8). Now 27% (up 1ppt) of Australians say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 30% (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. In addition, 35% (up 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, and 19% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Just 15% (down 2ppts) of Australians now expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 21% (unchanged) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 34% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 34% (up 2ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Cochlear takes long-term view on China

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jared Lynch
The Australian – Page: 15 : 23-Feb-22

Hearing implant maker Cochlear has posted a 2021-22 interim net profit of $169.3m, which is 28 per cent lower than previously. However, its underlying net profit rose 26 per cent to $158m and revenue was 10 per cent higher at $815.3m. Shareholders will receive an interim dividend of $1.55 per share, which is 35 per cent higher than previously. Meanwhile, CEO Dig Howitt says the ongoing tensions between Australia and China will not affect Cochlear’s investment plans in China; the company is about to commission a $50m manufacturing plant in China, and Howitt says it is committed to China for the long-term.

CORPORATES
COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH

7.5 million Australians are now watching Broadcast Video on Demand such as 7plus, 9Now, 10 Play and ABC iView

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Feb-22

New data from Roy Morgan shows that 7.5 million Australians now watch ‘Broadcast Video on Demand’ (BVOD) services. Viewership of BVOD services grew strongly during the early stages of the pandemic, with an increase of around 2.1 million viewers (+39.5%) in 2020 compared to the December 2019 quarter. This level of growth was always going to be hard to maintain and over the last year an additional 130,000 viewers streamed BVOD services, an increase of 1.8% on 2020, for a total of over 7.5 million viewers (35.5%). ABC iView continues to be the clear market leader with 4.13 million viewers in an average four weeks, up 985,000 (+31.3%) from two years ago, although down 633,000 (-13.3%) on a year ago. SBS On Demand remains in second place and is now viewed by 2.86 million Australians representing an increase of 217,000 (+8.2%) from two years ago although down 653,000 (-18.6%) from a year ago. The leader of the three traditional commercial broadcasters is the Seven Network’s 7plus which is now viewed by 2.6 million Australians, an increase of 727,000 (+38.8%) from a year ago. Close behind are the Nine Entertainment Company’s 9Now which is viewed by 2.38 million Australians, up 318,000 (+15.4%) on a year ago and Network 10’s 10 Play, now viewed by 1.7 million Australians, up 358,000 (+26.7%). This new data comes from Roy Morgan Single Source, Australia’s most comprehensive consumer survey, derived from in-depth interviews with over 60,000 Australians each year.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, SPECIAL BROADCASTING SERVICE (SBS), NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED

Fortescue plans huge wind and solar farm

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 18 : 10-Feb-22

Fortescue Metals Group’s clean energy arm has revealed plans to build a wind and solar energy farm to provide renewable energy for the Eliwana iron ore mine in the Pilbara. The proposed renewable energy hub will be partially built on the Uaroo pastoral station, which is owned by a subsidiary of Andrew Forrest’s private investment arm, Tattarang. Fortescue Future Industries plans to commence work on the project as soon as it receives environmental approval from the Western Australian government.

CORPORATES
FORTESCUE FUTURE INDUSTRIES PTY LTD, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, TATTARANG PTY LTD