Stocks lashed by recession fears

Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 17 & 27 : 4-Oct-19

Factors such as growing uncertainty about the outlook for the global economy and a ruling from the WTO that has cleared the US to impose tariffs on European Union imports have weighed on investors worldwide. Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 has shed 2.9 per cent so far in October, while the S&P 500 in the US has fallen by three per cent. Aaryn Nania of Lucerne Investment Partners warns that investors should expect further market volatility, although Robert Buckland of Citigroup says it is too soon to predict a recession in the US and the end of the bull market.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX, WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION, LUCERNE INVESTMENT PARTNERS, CITIGROUP INCORPORATED, NIKKEI 225 INDEX, HANG SENG INDEX, SHANGHAI COMPOSITE INDEX, KOSPI INDEX, EURO STOXX 50 INDEX

ING achieves satisfaction ratings above ninety percent despite turbulent year for banking

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Oct-19

New Roy Morgan data shows that ING’s customer satisfaction rating among Australian home loan customers is 90%, followed by Bendigo Bank (86.9%) and Bankwest (81.6%). ING also has the highest level of customer satisfaction among non-home loan customers, at 92%, followed by Bendigo Bank (88.3%) and Suncorp (85.8%). The Big 4 banks were significantly behind the leaders; taking the Big 4 together, total non-home loan satisfaction is at its highest for over a year (77.8%), while home loan satisfaction is at a six-month high (71.1%). The findings come from the Roy Morgan Single Source survey, the world’s largest continuous source of consumer insights, derived from in-depth face-to-face interviews with over 50,000 Australians each year in their homes.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, ING BANK (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, BENDIGO BANK, SUNCORP BANK

Squeeze on banks a risk to economy

Original article by Jemima Whyte, Jonathan Shapiro, Aleks Vickovich, Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 4-Oct-19

The ANZ Bank’s chief economist Warren Hogan has rejected claims by Prime Minister Scott Morrison that the nation’s major banks are ‘profiteering’ by failing to pass on the latest official interest rate cut in full to their home loan customers. He says the banks are merely seeking to protect their margins. Meanwhile, the Australian Banking Association has stressed the importance of ‘strong, stable and profitable banks’ to economic growth and the free flow of credit.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN BANKING ASSOCIATION, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, HYPERION ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, UNISUPER LIMITED, IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD, EVANS AND PARTNERS PTY LTD, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB

Reforms to level media playing field

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 4-Oct-19

Traditional and digital media companies will be subject to the same regulatory regime under changes proposed by the federal government. Any reforms arising from the review of the regulatory regime are expected to be implemented in stages, as recommended by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission in the final report of its Digital Platforms Inquiry. Potential reforms could include imposing local content obligation on subscription video-on-demand services and increasing the producer tax offset for TV shows.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, DISNEY+

AFLW at war

Original article by Michael Warner
Herald Sun – Page: 62 & 61 : 3-Oct-19

The AFL Players’ Association says the majority of AFLW footballers support a proposed three-year collective bargaining agreement, and a vote on the deal will be held shortly. However, a group of AFLW players who are dissatisfied with the proposed pay deal has engaged the services of law firm Maurice Blackburn to represent them. Amongst other things, the dissident group contends that AFLW players will receive a pay rise of seven per cent in 2020 when based on hourly rates, rather than 21 per cent as the AFLPA has claimed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION, MAURICE BLACKBURN PTY LTD

Kogan launches Visa card and $300 credit offer

Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 3-Oct-19

Online retailer Kogan.com has partnered with Citigroup to launch a Visa-branded credit card. The Kogan Money card has no annual fee and a 55-day interest-free period, while cardholders will receive free membership of the Kogan First customer loyalty scheme. Kogan announced the alliance with Citigroup in November 2018, and flagged plans to launch a credit card during 2019. Kogan has previously diversified into products such as superannuation, home loans and mobile phones.

CORPORATES
KOGAN.COM LIMITED – ASX KGN, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, VISA INTERNATIONAL, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

BHP, South32 lead in tackling climate change

Original article by Joanna Mather
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 3-Oct-19

The Climate Change 100+ group has released a new report on the abatement strategies of the 161 companies globally that generate the most carbon emissions. The report notes that 70 per cent of these companies have adopted emissions reduction targets, although just nine per cent have set targets that are consistent with the Paris climate agreement. Australian-listed mining groups BHP and South32 are among relatively few of the 161 companies that have set zero net emissions targets.

CORPORATES
CLIMATE CHANGE 100+, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BORAL LIMITED – ASX BLD, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD

Inside a massive cyber hack that risks compromising leaders across the globe

Original article by Stephanie Borys
abc.net au – Page: Online : 3-Oct-19

Australian National University vice chancellor Brian Schmidt says a cyber attack on its computer network in November 2018 was an ‘extremely sophisticated operation’. It was also very simply executed, with ANU’s systems being compromised after a staffer merely previewed an email with an attachment, which allowed the hackers to create a copy of the university’s network map. The hackers were then able to access ANU’s enterprise systems domain, which enabled them to steal the personal data of ANU students from the last 19 years. The motives of the hackers remain unknown, but the stolen data could potentially include that of former students who are now in positions of power in both Australia and abroad.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Tedesco on the cusp of the game’s greatest season

Original article by Brent Read
The Australian – Page: 32 & 31 : 3-Oct-19

Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco has won the National Rugby League’s prestigious Dally M Medal for 2019. Tedesco was widely expected to win the award for player of the year, while Melbourne Storm’s Cameron Smith was the runner-up. Tedesco, who has also won the 2019 Brad Fittler and Wally Lewis awards, will be seeking to cap a stellar season with a victory against the Canberra Raiders in the NRL Grand Final on 6 October.

CORPORATES
SYDNEY ROOSTERS RUGBY LEAGUE FOOTBALL, NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE, CANBERRA RAIDERS

CEO shakes up Seven with new structure and job cuts

Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 18 : 3-Oct-19

The number of people who report directly to Seven West Media CEO James Warburton has been reduced from 17 to just eight as part of a broader restructuring at the group. Seven West Media will also hire three new executives, including the newly-created role of chief content officer. Seven will also streamline its operating divisions and shed staff as it seeks to reduce costs by about $20m in 2019-20. Warburton had flagged an overhaul at Seven West Media when he took the helm in August.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NINE NETWORK AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED