Author: roymorgansocial

Roy Morgan Poll: ALP takes lead on two-party preferred after Reserve Bank cuts interest rates: ALP 51% cf. L-NP 49%

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

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

The latest Roy Morgan survey shows that if a Federal Election were held now the result would be a hung parliament; the ALP is on 51% (up 2.5%) on a two-party preferred basis, just ahead of the L-NP Coalition on 49% (down 2.5%). The ALP or the Coalition would require the support of minor parties and independents to form a government. The ALP gained significant ground on primary support this week, up 3.5% to 31.5%, while the Coalition was down 3% to 36.5%. Support for the Greens increased 1% to 13.5%. Support for One Nation dropped 0.5% to 5%, support for Other Parties dropped 1% to 3.5% and support for Independents was unchanged at 10%.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Albanese confident US would come to Australia’s defence in event of attack

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Kate Lyons
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 25-Feb-25

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese discussed issues such as Australia’s alliance with the US, the cost-of-living crisis and social cohesion in a special edition of the ABC’s Q&A program on Monday night. Amongst other things, Albanese expressed confidence that Australia could rely on the US to help defend the nation if it were to come under attack; however, he also emphasised the need for Australia to invest in its own defence. Albanese described anti-semitism as "abhorrent and completely unacceptable", in response to criticism from an audience member regarding his perceived lack of action against people who have been targeting Jewish Australians.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Chinese expose navy’s chronic decline

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Andrew Tillett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 25-Feb-25

Analysis shows that the Royal Australian Navy has retired 14 surface ships from service since the federal government took office in May 2022. Four new patrol boats have been added to the navy’s fleet over this period, and the navy now has just 25 surface vessels. Former rear admiral Rowan Moffitt says the navy is in "serious, accelerating and chronic decline", although he emphasises that this has been developing for more than two decades. The strength of the nation’s defence force has been under scrutiny in the wake of revelations that the Chinese navy has conducted live-fire exercises in the Tasman Sea.

CORPORATES
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

MinRes forced to defend disclosure standards

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: Online : 25-Feb-25

Mineral Resources has been issued with a number of questions by the ASX in relation to its half-year results, which it released last week. Mineral Resources announced it had recorded a loss of $807 million, compared to a net profit after tax of $530 million for the previous corresponding period, and the ASX queried whether the market had been fully informed ahead of the release of its results. It is not the first time that Mineral Resources has been called on to defend its disclosure standards, as it deals with the fallout from various scandals involving MD Chris Ellison that include tax evasion.

CORPORATES
MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX

Ukraine, US close to a deal over nation’s natural resources

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Daryna Krasnolutska, Alex Wickham
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 25-Feb-25

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna says it and the US are close to concluding a deal that would see the US get a share of Ukraine’s mineral resources. The deal is seen as a vital part of US President Donald Trump’s plans to broker a ceasefire agreement in regard to Russia’s three-year war against Ukraine. It is understood that the US will commit to a "free, sovereign and secure" Ukraine and a "lasting peace" as part of the deal, and that the US will state that anyone who acted adversely against Ukraine during the conflict should not derive any benefit from its reconstruction.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Whyalla rescue plan launched two months ago

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 25-Feb-25

Bruce Carter has been the chairman of the South Australian government’s Steel Task Force since its inception in 2015. It was established over concerns regarding the financial stability and future of the Whyalla steelworks under the then-ownership of Arrium, which went broke in 2016, with British industrialist Sanjeev Gupta emerging as the new owner of the steelworks in mid-2017. With the state government becoming increasingly fed up with Gupta’s unpaid bills and the damage they were doing to the town of Whyalla, it has been revealed that Carter phoned KordaMentha in late 2024 about the possibility of placing the steelworks into administration; the government ended up appointing KordaMentha as administrator of the Whyalla steelworks and associated iron ore mines on 19 February.

CORPORATES
KORDA MENTHA AND COLLEAGUES PTY LTD, ARRIUM LIMITED

Private Health Insurance Switching: HCF, Bupa, and ahm see biggest customer growth

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

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

Data from Roy Morgan shows that despite rising cost-of-living pressures, most Australians are maintaining private health insurance rather than opting out, but they are switching. As of December 2024, over half of Australians aged 14+ (57.2%) hold a private health insurance policy – equivalent to approximately 12.9 million people. This represents steady growth over the past five years, rising from 52.9% in December 2020 to 57.2% in December 2024. Some 6.8% of private health insurance policies were switched to another company in the year to December 2024, while 17.9% were renewed after approaching another company. In total, close to one in four (24.6%) people looked for a better health insurance policy deal, up from 22.3% in the previous year. HCF, Bupa and ahm have been the biggest winners from customer switching in the past 12 months, benefiting from their reputation for competitive pricing. In contrast, Medibank Private saw the largest customer loss due to switching.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, THE HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS FUND OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BUPA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AHM HEALTH INSURANCE, MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL

Nine CEO met CoStar boss weeks before Domain bid

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Sam Buckingham-Jones
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 25-Feb-25

Nine Entertainment will release its half-yearly results today, with investors and analysts certain to question acting CEO Matt Stanton about CoStar’s bid for Domain. The US real estate firm has made a $2.40 per share for Domain, the online property classifieds platform that is 60 per cent owned by Nine and which is considered by many to be its most valuable asset. It can be revealed that CoStar founder Andy Florance met with Stanton when Florance was staying with former federal treasurer Joe Hockey in Sydney over the Christmas break, and that the two discussed possible opportunities involving CoStar and Domain.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, COSTAR GROUP INCORPORATED, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 1.6pts to 85.1 in the week before key Reserve Bank meeting on interest rates

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Feb-25

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 1.6pts to 85.1 in the week to 16 February, due to rising concerns about personal finances and the Australian economy over the next year. Consumer Confidence is now 2.3 points above the same week a year ago (82.8), but 1.6 points below the 2025 weekly average of 86.7. A look at Consumer Confidence by State shows a mixed result, with decreases in Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, virtually unchanged in New South Wales, and increasing in Queensland. Now 20% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 50% (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’ (the highest figure for this indicator so far this year). Looking forward, 32% (down 2ppts) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year (the lowest figure for this indicator so far this year), while 31% (up 3ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Now 10% (down 1ppt) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 29% (up 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 24% (down 2ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items (the lowest figure for this indicator since before the Black Friday sales period), while 45% (up 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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

Robb cautions against losing tariff advantage

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 4 : 19-Feb-25

Former Coalition minister Andrew Robb has weighed into the debate regarding the tariff policies of US President Donald Trump. Robb has used a Sydney University speech to warn that the foundations of the global trading system are facing their "most significant challenge" since the post-World War II era. He notes that the US has traditionally been the strongest advocate of the "three pillars" of globalisation, but these pillars are now under threat. These pillars include the law of comparative advantage, and the former trade minister says Australia must resist "throwing it out the window".

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY