Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-May-16
The ANZ-Roy Morgan New Zealand Consumer Confidence Index has fallen by four points to 116.2 in May 2016. In seasonally adjusted terms confidence eased from 117 to 115. The Current Conditions Index fell by four points to 119.3 and the Future Conditions Index fell by three points to 114.3.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ
Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 17-May-16
The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose 1.1 per cent to 115.1 in the week ended 15 May 2016, remaining above its long run average for the third consecutive week. The RBA’s cut to the official cash rate two weeks ago likely had a (delayed) positive impact on consumer confidence. Consumers’ views towards their current finances fell 1.8 per cent, but consumers’ views toward economic conditions in the next 12 months rose by 6.1 per cent.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 18-May-16
The minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s May 2016 board meeting show that the central bank considered leaving rates on hold. The cash rate was cut by 25 basis points, but opinion among market watchers is divided as to the timing and extent of further monetary policy easing. Royal Bank of Canada’s Su-Lin Ong says the RBA could cut the cash rate again in June, although Capital Economics and the Commonwealth Bank expect a rate cut in August. The latter also expects another cut in November.
CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC
Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-May-16
The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia remained unchanged at 113.9 in the week ended 8 May 2016. While the Reserve Bank’s cut to the official cash rate is likely to have been well received, any positive impact looks to have been somewhat offset by consumers’ reaction to the Commonwealth Budget. Consumers’ views towards their current personal finances fell 0.8 per cent, and consumers’ views toward the economic conditions in the next 12 months fell 1.2 per cent.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 10-May-16
Some currency experts have suggested that the recent sharp downturn in the value of the Australian dollar could continue. Mark Walton of BNP Paribas says the currency could fall to around $US0.67 if the Reserve Bank pursues further monetary policy easing. However, Robert Rennie of Westpac says the currency’s sell-off has been "rapid and unexpected", and he adds that it may find support from investors at around the $US0.73 to $US0.735 level.
CORPORATES
BNP PARIBAS SA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, FITCH RATINGS LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION
Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 18 : 4-May-16
The ANZ Bank reported a 2015-16 interim cash profit of $A2.8bn on 3 May 2016, which was slightly below market expectations. The banking major reduced its half-year dividend from $A0.86 per share to $A0.80, prompting speculation that National Australia Bank will do so as well when its interim results are released on 5 May. Omkar Joshi of Watermark Funds Management has welcomed ANZ’s decision to reduce its dividend payout ratio, while Katana Asset Management’s Romano Sala Tenna says the other major banks should follow its example.
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, WATERMARK FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, KATANA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, INVESTORS MUTUAL LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENTS. BASEL COMMITTEE ON BANKING SUPERVISION
Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 3-May-16
The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose 2.0 per cent to 113.9 in the week ended 1 May 2016, partly reversing the fall in the previous week and bringing confidence back above its long run average. Consumers’ views towards their current personal finances rose 2.9 per cent, although households’ views towards the financial outlook fell by 0.9 per cent.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA
Original article by Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 4-May-16
The Australian sharemarket gained 2.1 per cent on 3 May 2016, after the Reserve Bank reduced the cash rate by 25 basis points to a record low of 1.75 per cent in the wake of a downturn in inflation. The ANZ Bank is the only "big four" bank that is yet to confirm that it will respond by reducing its mortgage interest rates. Meanwhile, Westpac and the Commonwealth Bank expect another official interest rate cut in August, although Goldman Sachs forecasts that rates will remain on hold until November.
CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY
Original article by Michael Bennet
The Australian – Page: 19 & 23 : 3-May-16
Shares in Australia’s major banks were sold down on 2 May 2016, after Westpac posted lower-than-expected cash earnings of $A3.9bn for the first half of 2015-16. This was three per cent higher than previously, but impairment charges rose by 96 per cent to $A667m and the bank’s return on equity fell to 14.2 per cent. CEO Brian Hartzer says Westpac will cease offering financial products that do not generate a sufficient return. Shareholders will receive an unchanged interim dividend of $A0.94 per share.
CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, SLATER AND GORDON LIMITED – ASX SGH, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED, ARNHEM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD
Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 16 : 2-May-16
The earnings and dividend payouts of Australia’s four major banks will come under scrutiny in the first week of May 2016, with three set to release their half-year results. Westpac is tipped to post an interim net profit of at least $A4bn, while the ANZ Bank and National Australia Bank are expected to report half-year profits of about $A3.58bn and $A3.34bn respectively. Hugh Dive of Aurora Funds Management says NAB is the most likely to reduce its dividend payout, although Mark Nathan of Arnhem Asset Management believes that all four major banks will leave dividends unchanged in the near-term.
CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AURORA FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED, ARNHEM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE INCORPORATED, WATERMARK FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, DICK SMITH HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX DSH, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION
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