ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence falls 3.9pts to 110.6 after Turnbull ‘bounce’

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 29-Sep-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by 3.4 per cent to 110.6 in the week ended 27 September 2015. This partially retraces the record 8.7 per cent bounce in the previous week in response to the appointment of Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister. The decline in confidence was broad-based across the subindices. In particular, confidence in the economy over the next 12 months fell by 7.5 per cent, while confidence in the economy over the next five years fell by 1.5 per cent. The levels of both subindices are below their long-run average.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Inner-city suburbs risk mortgage default, says NAB

Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Sep-15

National Australia Bank has identified about 80 postcodes across Australia where it will restrict loan-to-valuation ratios due to concerns about the potential for home loan borrowers to default. Home buyers in some 40 postcodes are regarded as being particularly at risk of default, and home loan borrowers in these postcodes will require a minimum deposit of 30 per cent. While many of the postcodes are in mining areas, the list also includes 34 in Sydney and five in Melbourne, and the CBDs of all five major capital cities.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, HOMELOANEXPERTS.COM.AU, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

New Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gives immediate Consumer Confidence boost in all States and a wide range of demographics

Original article by Michele Levine, Gary Morgan, Julian McCrann, Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Sep-15

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence jumped by a one-week record 9.2 points to 114.5 in the week ended 20 September 2015, after Malcolm Turnbull was sworn in as the 29th Prime Minister. The increase to consumer confidence was broad-based, with consumer confidence increasing strongly for both genders, across all age groups and all States and capital cities. Sentiment regarding the Australian economy over the next 12 months increased the most strongly with 31 per cent (up 10 per cent) of Australians expecting "good times" for the Australian economy over the next 12 months. Over the next few weeks and months several Roy Morgan indicators will provide the clearest measure of whether Turnbull has what it takes to introduce the required reforms to boost the Australian economy and provide the confidence to businesses and consumers to get the economy growing on a sustainable path.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Peter Warne to take ‘big gig’ at Macquarie

Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 25-Sep-15

Macquarie Group has appointed Peter Warne as chairman. He will assume his new role on 31 March 2016, replacing Kevin McCann. The Australian Shareholders’ Association is concerned that Warne will not be able to devote enough time to Macquarie, because of his many other commitments. Warne is chairman of ALE Property Group and OzForex Group. He also holds directorships at ASX Limited and the New South Wales Treasury Corporation.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, AUSTRALIAN SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSOCIATION, ALE PROPERTY GROUP – ASX LEP, OZFOREX GROUP LIMITED – ASX OFX, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, NEW SOUTH WALES TREASURY CORPORATION, MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY. OFFICE OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, CADENCE CAPITAL LIMITED – ASX CDT, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, ESANDA FINANCE CORPORATION LIMITED

RBA needs to cut official interest rate to 1.5pc: ANZ

Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 25-Sep-15

The ANZ Bank says Australia’s unemployment rate of 6.2 per cent is unlikely to fall significantly in the near-term due to factors such as slowing global economic growth and the uncertain outlook for the Chinese economy. Chief economist Warren Hogan warns that the unemployment rate could potentially rise over the next year or so. ANZ believes that a combination of factors means the Reserve Bank will have to reduce the cash rate in both February and May 2016.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Branch numbers are on the wane as digital banking gains popularity

Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 24 : 24-Sep-15

Alan Shields, the MD of advisory firm RFI, expects the trend for banks to reduce branch numbers to continue. Figures from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority show that Westpac cut its branches by 48 to 1,237 in 2014-15. The ANZ Bank reduced branch numbers by 19 to 751, while National Australia Bank closed two branches. The Commonwealth Bank opened one branch in 2014-15.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, MORNINGSTAR PTY LTD, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RETAIL FINANCE INTELLIGENCE PTY LTD

ANZ-Roy Morgan Hong Kong Consumer Confidence Falls in September

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Sep-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Hong Kong Consumer Confidence Index has fallen by 4.2 points to 134.0 in September 2015, after reaching a record high of 138.2 in August. The number of respondents who say their families are "better off" financially than 12 months ago has fallen by 4.1 per cent to 38.5 per cent. Meanwhile, the number of respondents who expect Hong Kong to have "good times" economically over the next 12 months has fallen by 2.8 per cent to 54.6 per cent. Inflation expectations rose by 0.2 per cent to 3.6 per cent in September.

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence: Turnbull turnaround boosts confidence to 114.5

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Sep-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose by 8.7 per cent to 114.5 in the week ended 20 September 2015. This more than retraces the 7.1 per cent decline over the previous two weeks and leaves confidence above long-run average levels. With no other substantive economic news or market movements to explain the outcome, the driver of the bounce was most likely optimism around the elevation of Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the Prime Ministership. The bounce in confidence was broad-based across the subindices. In particular, views on economic conditions over the next year jumped 25.8 per cent. Confidence in the economy over the next five years also gained a robust 13.4 per cent, but remains well below its long-run average.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ACCC nods at a Macquarie-Esanda tilt

Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 18-Sep-15

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission has ruled that there would be little impact on competition if Macquarie Group acquires the Esanda dealer finance business from ANZ Bank. Macquarie is regarded as the frontrunner to buy the Esanda business, which is tipped to change hands for up to $A1.5bn. Analysts say Macquarie could opt for a capital raising to help finance the deal if its bid succeeds.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, ESANDA FINANCE CORPORATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, ST GEORGE BANK LIMITED, TOYOTA FINANCE AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NISSAN FINANCE

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence on the Slide to 105.3 before Turnbull deposes Abbott as Prime Minister

Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-Sep-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by 1.3 per cent to 105.3 in the week ended 13 September 2015. This follows a decline of 5.8 per cent in the previous week, and leaves confidence at its weakest level since July 2014. Confidence in the economic outlook continues to be much weaker than views on household finances. The subindex on "economic conditions in the next five years" fell by six per cent, following a 5.2 per cent fall in the previous week. This is the lowest level since the weekly survey began in October 2008. However, the subindex "finances compared to a year ago" rose by 1.6 per cent, and it is the only subindex to remain above its long-run average.

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