While Melbourne is still preferred to Sydney, the gap amongst young people is falling as young Australians increasingly choose Sydney & Canberra for a holiday

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Apr-18

Melbourne is still Australia’s preferred holiday destination for young Australians with 320,000 14-24 year olds nominating Melbourne as their preferred capital city holiday destination over the next two years, it is up only 11,000 (+3.6%), on a decade ago. In comparison young Australians are increasingly choosing Sydney – now preferred by 180,000 Australians under 25, up 48,000 (+36.4%) in a decade, and Canberra – by 79,000 Australians aged under 25 and nearly double the 41,000 that chose Canberra as a holiday destination in 2007. The results from Roy Morgan’s latest Roy Morgan Holiday Tracking Survey show that Melbourne risks losing its position as Australia’s preferred holiday destination in the future as other cities increasingly find ways to appeal to young up and coming Australians. Roy Morgan holiday preference figures for 14-24 year olds 2007 v 2017: Melbourne 2007 (309,000) cf. 2017 (320,000). + 11,000 (+3.6%). Sydney 2007 (132,000) cf. 2017 (180,000). +48,000 (+36.4%). Canberra 2007 (41,000) cf. 2017 (79,000). +38,000 (+92.7%). See here for full release.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

China delivers trade warning amid strain on ties

Original article by Glenda Korporaal
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 19-Apr-18

Cheng Jingye, China’s ambassador to Australia, says relations between the two nation have become increasingly strained since mid-2017. The Federal Government’s proposed foreign interference laws have been a particular concern for China, even though no specific country has been identified as a target for the laws. Cheng has urged action to improve relations and mutual trust between the two nations, arguing that China presents a massive trade opportunity for Australia. He adds that failure to improve relations could have trade implications for Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH-EAST ASIAN NATIONS, BOAO FORUM FOR ASIA, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, GROUP OF TWENTY (G-20)

Pay boost could create 57,000 jobs

Original article by Anna Patty
The Age – Page: 23 : 19-Apr-18

Economic modelling undertaken by the ACTU suggests that increasing the minimum wage by $A50 a week would result in up to 57,000 jobs being created in the first year, and 30,000 in the following year. The ACTU’s modelling, which was included in its submission to the Fair Work Commission’s annual review of the minimum wage, is based on the assumption that much of the increase would be returned to the economy the in form of higher consumer spending. Independent economist Saul Eslake and the Australian Industry Group have questioned the ACTU’s modelling.

CORPORATES
ACTU, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA

CBA reputation hammered by series of scandals

Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 19-Apr-18

The Commonwealth Bank is rated 57th in the Reputation Institute’s latest Australian Corporate Reputation Index, compared with 36th previously. The index was compiled in February and March, and followed a series of scandals and executive departures at the bank. However, the positions of Australia’s other three major banks were largely unchanged in the latest index. Air New Zealand has the highest ranking in the index for the second successive year, followed by Toyota and Qantas.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, REPUTATION INSTITUTE PTY LTD, AIR NEW ZEALAND LIMITED – ASX AIZ, TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LIMITED – ASX BEN, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION INTO MISCONDUCT IN THE BANKING, SUPERANNUATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, APPLE PTY LTD, MURRAY GOULBURN CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY LIMITED, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Facebook outlines privacy revamp

Original article by Deepa Seetharaman
The Australian – Page: 22 : 19-Apr-18

Social media giant Facebook has revealed changes to its privacy policy in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica data breach scandal and the imminent introduction of stricter laws in Europe with regard to the use of personal data. Facebook will initially roll out its new privacy policy in Europe, with users to be explicitly asked permission for Facebook to use their personal data for targeted advertising and its facial recognition technology.

CORPORATES
FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA LLC

Lean, mean Jupiter Mines returns to ASX

Original article by William McInnes
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 19-Apr-18

Manganese producer Jupiter Mines relisted on the Australian sharemarket on 18 April, more than four years after the stock was delisted in the wake of a downturn in commodity prices. CEO Priyank Thapliyal says Jupiter had intended to return to the bourse after the completion of the Tshipi manganese mine in South Africa. He has ruled out acquisitions or taking on debt to drive the company’s growth. Jupiter shares closed at the issue price of $A0.40.

CORPORATES
JUPITER MINES LIMITED – ASX JMS

Aussie debt surges as world pares back

Original article by David Uren
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 19-Apr-18

Data from the International Monetary Fund shows that the combined debt of Australian governments is expected to peak at 41.7 per cent of GDP in 2018, compared with just 16.7 per cent in 2009. Japan and Spain are the only major advanced countries to have recorded faster growth in government debt over the last decade. However, the IMF has forecast that Australia’s gross debt will fall to 32.2 per cent over the next five years. Meanwhile, nearly $A60bn worth of Australian government debt is due to mature in the next two years, which is equivalent to 3.1 per cent of GDP.

CORPORATES
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, UNITED STATES. EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, AUSTRALIA. FUTURE FUND MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Woodside cool on play for rival Santos

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 19-Apr-18

Woodside Petroleum has advised that its sales rose by 18 per cent to $US1.169bn in the March 2018 quarter. The oil and gas group’s production rose from 21.4 million barrels of oil equivalent in the March 2017 quarter to 22.2 million boe, with the result being boosted by the contribution from its 13 per cent stake in the Wheatstone LNG project. CEO Peter Coleman has downplayed speculation that Woodside could bid for Santos, stressing that the Browse and Scarborough gas fields are its priorities.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, CHEVRON CORPORATION, HARBOUR ENERGY LIMITED, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Trains give Rio’s iron ore unit a push

Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 19-Apr-18

Rio Tinto has advised that its Pilbara iron ore shipments totalled 80.3 million tonnes in the March 2018 quarter, which is 11 per cent lower than the December quarter but five per cent higher year-on-year. The resources group still expects shipments for the full year to be within the range of 330 million and 340 million tonnes. Rio Tinto has also advised that it expects the AutoHaul autonomous train project to be completed in 2018, and says the proportion of trains that are operating in autonomous mode rose from 60 per cent to 65 per during the quarter.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, QUEENSLAND ALUMINA LIMITED, RUSAL

Lord mayoral candidates round on developer lobbyist frontrunner Sally Capp

Original article by Clay Lucas
The Age – Page: Online : 18-Apr-18

Rohan Leppert and Jennifer Yang are among the candidates for the role of Melbourne’s lord mayor who will instruct voters to direct their preferences away from Sally Capp in the upcoming by-election. Capp is the executive director of the Property Council, which lobbies on behalf of developers. Rival candidate Gary Morgan says the by-election has become a referendum on the proposed redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Market, which Capp supports. Morgan opposes the redevelopment.

CORPORATES
MELBOURNE CITY COUNCIL, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF VICTORIA, QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET, ROY MORGAN LIMITED