Author: roymorgansocial

Lew mulls next content move, says video paying off

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 26-Apr-19

Optus recently created the new role of vice-president of television, content and product development, recruiting Seven West Media executive Clive Dickens for the role. The role reflects the increased importance of video content to the telco, with drama and entertainment likely to be the next elements of its content strategy. CEO Allen Lew says content is one way by which Optus can differentiate itself from rival telcos.

CORPORATES
SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

BHP keeps its title as world’s top mine brand

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Original article by Melissa Yeo
The Australian – Page: 20 : 26-Apr-19

BHP’s brand value is estimated to be $US6bn ($8.6bn) in Brand Finance’s latest rankings for the global mining sector. The resources giant has topped the list for a second successive year, and is followed by ArcelorMittal and Glencore. BHP launched a rebranding initiative in 2017, accompanied by a new marketing campaign.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, BRAND FINANCE PLC, ARCELOR MITTAL SA, GLENCORE PLC, VALE SA

Shorten’s pledge to business

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 26-Apr-19

Opposition leader Bill Shorten says the federal election contest has become one of "hope versus fear". He says the federal government appears to be solely focused on attacking Labor’s policies, and has nothing to offer itself. Shorten says he intends to convene a summit on the economy and wages within the first 100 days of a Labor government, while he says Labor has no plans to change its policies in areas like industrial relations and company taxes. Shorten adds that Labor wants to work with business, while he will not be beholden to the union movement.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA

McEwan’s RBS exit fuels NAB CEO talk

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Original article by Richard Gluyas
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 26-Apr-19

There is growing speculation that Ross McEwan is a contender to succeed Andrew Thorburn as CEO of National Australia Bank, following his resignation as CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland. McEwan has been CEO of RBS since 2013, and it has returned to profitability and reinstated dividends under his leadership. Mike Baird and Anthony Healy are widely seen as the leading internal candidates to replace Thorburn, who resigned in February.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP PLC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RUSSELL REYNOLDS ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED, MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence up to 119.5

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Apr-19

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 3.6% to 119.5 in the week ended 21 April, taking the index to its highest level since December. Households’ views towards current financial conditions rose 3.6%, while views towards future financial conditions were up 5.2%. Consumers’ views toward current economic conditions rose 2%, and views towards future economic conditions increased 7.7% to the highest level since 2013. The ‘time to buy a household item’ index was flat.

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

RBA’s election rate cut no done deal

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Original article by Matthew Cranston, William McInnes
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 26-Apr-19

The futures market has priced in a 67 per cent chance that the Reserve Bank of Australia will reduce the cash rate in May. IFM’s chief economist Alex Joiner says the central bank is more likely to leave rates on hold until June, so it can take into account the latest employment and wages data. Michael Blythe of the Commonwealth Bank in turn says the RBA would not be concerned about adjusting the cash rate during an election campaign. However, he notes that the central bank has made it clear that the timing of any change in monetary policy will depend on the outlook for unemployment and inflation.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, QIC LIMITED, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD

Coalition go-ahead for giant U-mine

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 26-Apr-19

The Supreme Court of Western Australia has not released its ruling on a legal challenge to the state government’s decision to approve Cameco’s Yeelirrie uranium mine. However, it has been revealed that federal Environment Minister Melissa Price approved the project one day before the election was called. Mia Pepper, a spokeswoman for the Conservation Council of WA, has described Price’s decision to approve the mine as
"premature and highly political".

CORPORATES
CAMECO CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, SUPREME COURT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, CONSERVATION COUNCIL OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Grange raises property stake amid concerns

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 26-Apr-19

The decision by iron ore miner Grange Resources to diversify into property development continues to attract scrutiny. Grange is focusing on apartment developments in Melbourne suburbs such as Toorak and Prahran, where dwelling prices fell sharply in 2018. Some shareholders have expressed concern about the adequacy of Grange’s disclosures regarding its investment in the venture. CGI Glass Lewis has also urged investors to vote against Grange’s remuneration report at its upcoming AGM.

CORPORATES
GRANGE RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GRR, CGI GLASS LEWIS PTY LTD, CORELOGIC AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Electric cars lift nickel mines

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 17 : 26-Apr-19

Several nickel producers may resume production at mothballed mines in Western Australia amid growing demand for ethically-sourced cobalt. The Democratic Republic of the Congo accounted for nearly 55 per cent of global supply of cobalt – a byproduct of nickel mining in WA – in 2016. However, BMW has signalled that its next generation of electric cars will only use cobalt from Australia or Morocco. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s mining industry has been widely criticised for unsafe working conditions and the use of forced labour.

CORPORATES
BMW AG, FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS LIMITED, PANORAMIC RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX PAN, INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL – ASX IGO, GLENCORE PLC, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF MINES, INDUSTRY REGULATION AND SAFETY, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR COMPANY LIMITED, PANASONIC

Workplace hitch to PM growth pitch

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Original article by Andrew Tillett, Matthew Cranston, John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 24-Apr-19

Council of Small Business Organisations CEO Peter Strong says industrial relations reform will be essential if the federal government is to achieve its goal of creating 250,000 new small businesses over the next five years. Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO James Pearson says that in addition to workplace reforms, the government must invest in training and take action to reduce power prices. The Institute of Public Affairs adds that action to reduce the red tape burden is also necessary.

CORPORATES
COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS LIMITED, QUANTUM BUSINESS FINANCE PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET