Author: roymorgansocial

Director Sentiment rebounds from post-pandemic low

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-Apr-25

The latest director sentiment survey from the Australian Institute of Company Directors shows an improvement in both economic and business conditions for the first half of 2025. This AICD survey of 1,127 company directors was conducted by Roy Morgan between 19 February and 6 March. While the Director Sentiment Index (DSI) remains in negative territory for the sixth consecutive survey (-23.9), it has lifted nearly 10 points, the strongest improvement since 2021. Meanwhile, only 25% of directors now believe that a recession is likely within the next 12 months, compared with 46% in the second half of 2024. However, nine out of 10 directors believe that escalating trade tensions under the Trump presidency threaten the economic outlook for both Australia and the world. Global uncertainty is now the top economic challenge facing Australian businesses, surpassing productivity growth and cost of living. Concerns over global protectionism have also increased significantly.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF COMPANY DIRECTORS, ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Gender-gap pay rulings a game-changer

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Original article by David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 17-Apr-25

The Fair Work Commission has recommended large pay rises for workers covered by industry awards in sectors that have predominatly female workers. The ACTU says the FWC’s recommendations will directly increase the wages of an estimated 175,000 workers, as well as 335,000 workers whose agreements ae underpinned by awards. Amongst other things, the FWC’s expert panel has recommended a pay rise of to 28.4 per cent for early childhood educators, up to 31.2 per cent for psychologists and up to 14.1 per cent for pharmacists. The proposed wage rises would be phased in over several years, and are in addition to any increase in the minimum wage from July.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, ACTU

Home building falls as election stokes demand

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 37 : 17-Apr-25

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that new housing starts nationwide totalled 168,049 in calendar 2024, which is 1.8 per cent higher than previously. However, new home starts fell by 4.4 per cent to 41,911 in the final three months of the year, which was the largest quarterly decline since September 2023. Both major political parties recently announced election policies that are expected to boost demand for housing, but Paul Bloxham from HSBC says the focus should be on measures to boost housing supply.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Dutton’s tax oath

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Original article by Paul McIntyre, Dennis Shanahan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 17-Apr-25

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has indicated that income tax reform will be one of his long-term goals if the Coalition wins the election on 3 May. He has identified tax indexation as an issue that he particularly wants to address, arguing that ‘bracket creep’ stifles productivity, ­entrepreneurialism and hard work. However, Dutton has emphasised that returning the budget to surplus would be the priority in the first term of a Coalition government, given that Labor has forecast deficits for the next decade. Dutton likens his approach to that of John Howard and Peter Costello in the 1990s, whereby they focused on budget repair during their first term in office before putting tax reform on their second-term agenda.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Women’s boot brand Wittner collapses

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Original article by Sarah Perillo
The Australian – Page: 17 : 17-Apr-25

Women’s footwear brand Wittner has become the latest casualty of challenging market conditions in Australia’s retail sector. Sal Algeri and David Orr from Deloitte have been appointed as the administrators of Wittner, which has a network of more than 20 stand-alone stores and about 25 concession stores within David Jones and Myer outlets. Wittner was founded in 1912, and the administrators have emphasised that it will continue to trade as they seek a deal to sell or recapitalise the business.

CORPORATES
WITTNER SHOES, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED

Australia can play key role in global supply of rare earths

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Original article by Robert Gottliebsen
The Australian – Page: 24 : 17-Apr-25

Federal Resources Minister Madeline King recently called for Australia to establish a strategic reserve of critical minerals. However, King did not name terbium and dysprosium, which are crucial for the defence sector and which will now be subject to export controls by China. King also did not mention that although Australia has terbium and dysprosium deposits, the nation does not currently produce these minerals. Meanwhile, Haoma Mining’s rare earth ore bodies at Bamboo Creek in the Pilbara carry some of the highest grades of terbium and dysprosium in the world. Gold will first be extracted via the Elazac process, which greatly assists the economics. The high content of terbium and dysprosium in the remaining material can potentially be treated several ways. The Bamboo Creek ore also contains lutetium and yttrium, which are important in lutetium-based prostate cancer treatments.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES, HAOMA MINING NL

Trump’s tariff probe boosts local miners

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Original article by Andrew Tillett, Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 17-Apr-25

US President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order regarding critical minerals. He has directed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to investigate whether new tariffs should be imposed on all critical minerals imports on national security grounds. Amongst other things, Lutnick will examine the impact of the "predatory economic, pricing and market manipulation" strategies of countries that process critical minerals. Minerals Council of Australia CEO Tania Constable has welcomed the investigation, saying it will present Australia with an opportunity to strengthen its position as a trusted and reliable supplier of critical minerals to the US.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

Putin’s man in Indonesia fixes aim at Australia

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Original article by Amanda Hodge, Dian Septiari, Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 17-Apr-25

Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, has defended his nation’s military ties with Indonesia in the wake of reports that the nation had made a request to base military aircraft in the province of Papua. He says that military co-operation is an integral part of the intergovernmental relations between Russia and Indonesia. Tolchenov added that all interactions between the armed forces of the two nations are aimed at strengthening their mutual defensive capabilities and pose no security threat to the Asia-Pacific region. He also warned that any challenges to regional stability are more likely to arise from the AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines deal and plans by the US to station troops and military airplanes in Australia.

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Hunter jobs rest on hydro dream

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 15 & 21 : 17-Apr-25

BHP has commissioned Acciona to undertake an initial feasibility study into developing a pumped hydro energy storage project at part of the Mt Arthur thermal coal mine when it closes in 2030. BHP had announced in 2022 that it would close the mine by the end of the decade, given that it is nearing the end of its economic life; the company has confirmed that the NSW government has granted planning approval for the mine to keep operating until the scheduled closing date. The mine employs about 2,000 workers.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Rio Tinto flags $150m storm hit to iron ore exports

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 17-Apr-25

Rio Tinto shipped just 70.7 million tonnes of iron ore from the Pilbara during the March quarter, which is 17 per cent lower than the last three months of 2024. Production was affected by four cyclones during the period, putting Rio Tinto about 13 million tonnes behind schedule on achieving its full-year target of shipping between 323 million and 338 million tonnes. Rio Tinto expects to incur mitigation costs of about $150m as it seeks to reach the lower end of its guidance. Meanwhile, the Pilbara Ports Authority has advised that 133.62 million tonnes of iron ore was shipped through Port Hedland during the March quarter, an increase of 1.3 per cent year-on-year; Port Hedland is used by BHP, Fortescue and Hancock Prospecting.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, PILBARA PORT AUTHORITY, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE LIMITED – ASX FMG, HANCOCK PROSPECTING PTY LTD