Author: roymorgansocial

Banks to lift their game with new code

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 1-Jul-19

The Australian Banking Association’s updated Banking Code of Practice comes into effect on 1 July, and CEO Anna Bligh says it is an "important step" in restoring consumers’ trust in banks following the Hayne royal commission. The revised code will provide increased protection for consumers, and require banks to treat them fairly. The first phase of the open banking regime also commences on 1 July.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BANKING ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, VOLT BANK LIMITED, FINANCIAL COUNSELLING AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY

Trade truce fears for local farmers

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Jul-19

The US and China have indicated that they will resume trade negotiations, with President Donald Trump stating that China had agreed to buy a "tremendous amount" of US agricultural produce. This has prompted concern among Australian officials that such purchases could be at the expense of local farmers, along with fears that the US and China could strike ‘side deals’. However, despite the concerns about agriculture, there was overall relief in Australia that China and the US have agreed to keep talking about their trade differences and that Trump did not impose any more tariffs on China.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Donald Trump steps onto North Korean soil in meeting with Kim Jong-un

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Original article by Ally Foster
News.com.au – Page: Online : 1-Jul-19

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has praised Donald Trump for becoming the first US President to step foot on North Korean soil. The two leaders had met in the Demilitarised Zone that separates North and South Korea after Trump had extended a last-minute invitation to Kim for the two to meet. Trump stepped onto the northern side of the DMZ, while Kim also crossed the demarcation line between North and South Korea, setting foot in South Korea. It is the third time Trump and Kim have met, and the meeting has raised hopes that denuclearisation talks will continue.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Morrison tax assault on Labor arrogance

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Original article by Simon Benson, Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Jul-19

Prime Minister Scott Morrison expects Labor to pass the federal government’s income tax cuts package in the lower house on 2 July, and he says it would be an act of "belligerent arrogance" for Labor to then block it in the Senate. A senior Labor source has indicated that the party will wait until it knows if the Coalition has the support of crossbenchers before deciding whether to pass the tax package in the Senate. Labor continues to have concerns about the third stage of the tax cuts package, but the Coalition has ruled out splitting the tax bill.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, CENTRE ALLIANCE, ONE NATION PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Resource export earnings surge

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 1-Jul-19

The Department of Industry estimates that Australia’s resources export earnings reached a new high of $275bn in 2018-19. It forecasts that this will top $285bn in 2019-20, before falling to $260bn in 2020-21 as commodity prices ease. Iron ore exports are forecast to reach a record $79bn in 2019-20, up from $75bn in 2018-19, and ease to $65bn in 2020-21. Resources Minister Matt Canavan notes that mining investment has fallen in the last five years, and he says governments in Australia should capitalise on high commodity prices by reducing the regulatory barriers to investing in the sector.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, ADANI MINING PTY LTD

Lawyers fear slowdown after Hayne sugar hit

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Original article by Michael Pelly, Edmund Tadros
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 34 : 28-Jun-19

The latest Law Partnership Survey shows that the number of partners at participating firms has increased by 2.8 per cent in the first half of 2019, and by 3.2 per cent in the last year. Meanwhile, Herbert Smith Freehills and Allens are among the firms that have recorded strong growth in non-partner fee-earners in the last six months. Some lawyers are upbeat about the outlook for the legal services sector, noting that law firms are continuing to gain work in the aftermath of the financial services royal commission.

CORPORATES
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS PTY LTD, ALLENS, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, KING AND WOOD MALLESONS, ARNOLD BLOCH LEIBLER, DLA PIPER, LANDER AND ROGERS, CLAYTON UTZ, MINTER ELLISON, CORRS CHAMBERS WESTGARTH, MILLS OAKLEY LAWYERS PTY LTD, JOHNSON WINTER AND SLATTERY, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Dutton puts end to MP eligibility row

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Original article by Rosie Lewis
The Australian – Page: 6 : 28-Jun-19

A spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says he formally relinquished his interest in a family trust before nominating for the 18 May federal election. Dutton’s eligibility to be in parliament came under scrutiny in 2018 due to his pecuniary interest in a childcare centre which is owned by his wife and which had received federal government subsidies. The spokeswoman has stressed that two constitutional law experts had previously advised Dutton that he was not in breach of section 44 of the Constitution.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS, RHT FAMILY TRUST, UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Consumers flick the switch to lower bills

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 2 : 28-Jun-19

One in four Australians have changed their electricity provider in the last year, according to the Australian Energy Market Commission. Electricity retailers AGL Energy, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy no longer hold the biggest market share in South Australia and south-east Queensland, while the average median household bill ‘offer’ declined by between two and four per cent in New South Wales in the year to March, seven per cent across south-east Queensland, and up to four per cent in Victoria.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET COMMISSION, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Australia’s lithium boom underwhelms

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 28-Jun-19

Lithium prices have fallen in 2019 as analysts had predicted, but not necessarily just for the reason that they had forecast. Analysts had suggested that a surge in supply would "crush" lithium prices, but reduced demand in China and a delay in developing and commissioning new capacity in China for converting Australia’s spodumene concentrate into battery-grade lithium have also been cited as factors. Australian lithium exports are certainly growing more slowly than expected.

CORPORATES
GALAXY RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GXY, PILBARA MINERALS LIMITED – ASX PLS, ALLIANCE MINERAL ASSETS LIMITED – ASX A40, ALTURA MINING LIMITED – ASX AJM, OROCOBRE LIMITED – ASX ORE

Super returns can’t last forever: Chant West

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Original article by Andrew White
The Australian – Page: 31 : 28-Jun-19

Data from Chant West shows that the median growth superannuation fund is on track to deliver a return of 7.1 per cent for 2018-19. It would be the 10th year of positive returns after big losses in 2008 and 2009 due to the global financial crisis. However, Mano Mohankumar of Chant West cautions that the strong performance may not be sustained, noting that super funds have in effect simply been recovering from the financial crisis, while the sector faces a number of headwinds.

CORPORATES
CHANT WEST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX