K62 Finance

Falling profits hit economy

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Original article by Jacob Greber, Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 : 1-Sep-15

Company profits fell 1.9 per cent in the three months to June 2015, the fifth straight quarter of profit declines, prompting analysts to conclude the Australian economy is shrinking for the first time since the election of the Abbott Government. Despite fears new concerns about the economy could weigh heavily on investor sentiment, Treasurer Joe Hockey insisted there were positive signs and that the prospect of tax reform and the China free-trade agreement would lift spirits.

CORPORATES
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, BLOOMBERG FINANCIAL SERVICES, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

ANZ-Roy Morgan Chinese Consumer Confidence Declined to a New Low

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Aug-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan China Consumer Confidence index fell by 2.5 points to 138.5 in August 2015, which is its lowest level on record. The number of respondents who said that their families are "better off" financially in August 2015 compared with the same time last year fell by 2.3 percentage points to 40.7 per cent. Meanwhile, the number of respondents who expect the Chinese economy to have "good times" in the next 12 months fell by 1.7 percentage points to 57.4 per cent.

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

Big business will have to pay for ASIC

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Original article by Patrick Durkin
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 : 28-Aug-15

The Australian Securities & Investments Commission would be funded by a user-pays system under a plan proposed by the Federal Government. Big business, banks and the financial services sector would carry the biggest burden under the plan, with a maximum levy of $A320,000 a year on companies with a market capitalisation of more than $A15 billion. A discussion paper to be released by Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg sets a deadline of 9 October 2015 for submissions.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATION, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, WESTFIELD CORPORATION – ASX WFD, TRANSURBAN GROUP LIMITED – ASX TCL, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, AMCOR LIMITED – ASX AMC

Crowdfunding gathers impetus with investors

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Original article by Su-Lin Tan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 38 : 27-Aug-15

Property crowdfunding is still a novelty in Australia. In the US, $A1.42 billion has been raised for property investments. CrowdfundUp’s founder Jack Quiqley told a Property Council of Australia breakfast in Sydney on 26 August 2015 that property equity crowdfunding gives retail investors an opportunity to enter the property market with a small sum of money.

CORPORATES
CROWDFUNDUP PTY LTD, PROPERTY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, LESTER GROUP LIMITED, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA

The top 20 postcodes at risk of mortgage default

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Original article by Jonathan Barrett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 27-Aug-15

Mortgage arrears are at below usual levels, according to Fitch Ratings. The worst performing suburbs are in low socioeconomic areas or in places reliant on single industries, such as tourism. With interest rates at record lows, the main reasons for falling behind in mortgage payments are loss of job, relationship breakup and unexpected expense. Budgewoi, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, was the worst postcode, Mackay in Queensland the worst region and Tasmania the worst state.

CORPORATES
FITCH RATINGS LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence – Virtually Unchanged at 113.0

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 26-Aug-15

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by 0.2 per cent to 113.0 in the week ended 23 August 2015. This leaves confidence around its long run average and similar to levels seen a year ago (-0.4 per cent). The fall in confidence was driven by views on ”economic conditions in the next five years” (down 1.2 per cent), ”finances in the next year” (down one per cent), and ”finances compared to a year ago” (down 0.5 per cent). Increases were recorded in ”economic conditions in the next year” and ”time to purchase a household item”. In comparison to a year ago, consumers’ confidence about economic conditions looks bleak. Views on ”economic outlook for the next year” are down 5.4 per cent and views on ”economic conditions in the next five years” are down 2.6 per cent. This is consistent with the equity market, which is down over seven per cent from a year ago.

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

Big four banks mauled in bear market as capital rules bite

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 24-Aug-15

Shares in Australia’s major banks continue to be under pressure. Since the beginning of 2015, they have lost more than $A85 billion in their combined market value, or more than 20 per cent. Shares in the ANZ Banking Group declined 23.9 per cent from their April peak of $A37.25. Investors worry about the bank’s exposure to Asia and to Australian mining companies.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, CADENCE CAPITAL LIMITED – ASX CDT, BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED, ALPHINITY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Reserve Bank calls out big banks on high credit card profits

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Original article by Shaun Drummond
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 20-Aug-15

The Reserve Bank of Australia says interest rates on credit cards, which spiked after the global financial crisis, have remained high despite the fall in the cash rate since then. Advertised rates have risen from 16 per cent eight years ago to about 20 per cent on standard credit cards. It is estimated the "spread" the banks earn on cards above the cost of funding them has risen from about six percentage points in 2007 to nine in the March quarter of 2015.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, RETAIL FINANCE INTELLIGENCE PTY LTD

Australian dollar wobbles on new China volatility

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Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 20-Aug-15

The Australian dollar was trading at $US0.7333 in late trade on 18 August 2015. The Australian currency is under pressure because of weak commodity prices. Copper and aluminium prices have fallen to their lowest levels in six years. National Australia Bank global co-head of foreign exchange strategy Ray Attrill says the Australian dollar usually moves in the same direction as the currencies of Asia’s emerging economies.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, SAXO CAPITAL MARKETS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD

Aussie dollar steadies amid fears of limited future gains

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Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 18-Aug-15

The Australian dollar was trading at $US0.7374 in late trade on 17 August 2015. UBS economist George Tharenou expects the local currency to continue to be under pressure due to weak commodity prices. He says the Australian dollar is likely to decline to $US0.70 by the end of 2015.

CORPORATES
UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, OZFOREX GROUP LIMITED – ASX OFX, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD