K64 Auxiliary Finance and Insurance Services

Forget the index, it’ll be a picker’s game

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Vanessa Desloires, Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 4-Jan-16

Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index ended 2015 at 5,295.9 points. Goldman Sachs forecasts that it will rise to 5,600 in 2016, and Citi expects it to reach 5,900. Meanwhile, David Bryant of Australian Unity says factors such as low interest rates and sustained weakness in commodity prices will weigh on sharemarket returns in 2016. Bryant is particularly bearish about returns from resources and banking stocks.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA GROUP HOLDINGS PTY LTD, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, AUSTRALIAN UNITY LIMITED, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, PRIME VALUE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH SECURITIES LIMITED

Resources stocks have huge interest, among their few fans

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 & 12 : 4-Jan-16

Garth Rossler of Maple-Brown Abbott says resources stocks could perform well in 2016 after a challenging year for the sector in 2015. Meanwhile, Randal Jenneke of T Rowe Price recently warned that the high yields from infrastructure and property stocks may not be sustainable. He says such stocks are likely to be impacted if the US Federal Reserve adopts an aggressive approach to increasing interest rates.

CORPORATES
MAPLE-BROWN ABBOTT LIMITED, T ROWE PRICE GROUP INCORPORATED, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, CLSA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

CBA’s heavily traded shares look to tip BHP from perch

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 60 : 23-Dec-15

Turnover in the Commonwealth Bank’s shares has totalled $A64.94bn so far in 2015, and the banking major seems poised to claim the title of the most heavily-traded stock by value for the year. BHP Billiton held this title for the previous five years, but just $A56.88bn worth of its shares have changed hands in the year to date, compared with $A152.9bn in 2010. BHP’s shares have fallen sharply in 2015, due to factors such as the downturn in commodity prices and the tailings dam disaster in Brazil.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32

The good, the bad and the ugly of 2015

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Thomson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 14 : 22-Dec-15

The rise in Blackmores’ share price from $A35 to more than $A200m was one of the highlights of 2015 for investors and financial markets. Others include the profit turnaround of Qantas, the US IPO of Atlassian, the sale of Toll Holdings to Japan Post for $A6.5bn and the commencement of exports from Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill iron ore project. On the downside, a number of stocks have fallen sharply in 2015, including BHP Billiton, Dick Smith Holdings and Slater & Gordon, while embattled retailer Woolworths has issued several profit downgrades and is yet to stem losses at its Big W and Masters businesses.

CORPORATES
BLACKMORES LIMITED – ASX BKL, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, ATLASSIAN CORPORATION PLC, TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED, JAPAN POST COMPANY LIMITED, ROY HILL IRON ORE PTY LTD, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, DICK SMITH HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX DSH, SLATER AND GORDON LIMITED – ASX SGH, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SWISSE WELLNESS PTY LTD, INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INCORPORATED, APPEN LIMITED – ASX APX, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, SCEPTER PARTNERS, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ANCHORAGE CAPITAL PARTNERS PTY LTD, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, VOCATION LIMITED – ASX VET, AUSTRALIAN CAREERS NETWORK LIMITED, ORICA LIMITED – ASX ORI, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

ASX soars above 5000 in pre-Fed rally

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 17-Dec-15

The Australian sharemarket posted strong gains on 16 December 2015, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 118.8 points to close at 5,028.4. The Commonwealth Bank was 2.9 per cent higher at $A79.09 and BHP Billiton rose 5.6 per cent to end the session at $A17.18. However, Primary Healthcare shed 9.7 per cent to finish at $A2.33 and Sonic Healthcare was 5.6 per cent lower at $A17.46.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LIMITED – ASX PRY, SONIC HEALTHCARE LIMITED – ASX SHL, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, DOMINO’S PIZZA ENTERPRISES LIMITED – ASX DMP, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, PRIME VALUE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, IG MARKETS LIMITED, CONSOLIDATED PRESS HOLDINGS LIMITED, JOEY’S PIZZA, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX

ASX dives below 5000 amid Fed rate jitters

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

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

The Australian sharemarket lost ground on 14 December 2015, with the S&P/ASX 200 shedding 100.9 points to close at 4,928.6. The Commonwealth Bank eased 1.9 per cent to end the session at $A77.44, BHP Billiton was down 3.5 per cent at $A16.60 and Woolworths fell 1.8 per cent to finish at $A22.59. However, Regis Resources advanced 8.6 per cent to close at $A2.28.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, REGIS RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX RRL, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, CSL LIMITED – ASX CSL, LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS LIMITED – ASX LNG, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED, CONTANGO ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, THIRD AVENUE FOCUSED CREDIT FUND, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX

No slow down in 2016 for hot M&A volumes

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Joyce Moullakis
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 9-Dec-15

Data from Dealogic shows that mergers and acquisitions activity involving Australian companies has risen by 80 per cent so far in 2015, to $US124.9bn ($A170.9m). This includes 23 deals worth $US1bn ($A1.4bn). Alex Cartel of Deutsche Bank forecasts further growth in M&A activity in 2016, while Gareth Cope of Rothschild Australia says the country remains highly attractive to offshore investors. Meanwhile, equity capital market issuance has reached its highest level since 2009, at more than $US42bn.

CORPORATES
DEALOGIC (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, NM ROTHSCHILD AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, SCEPTER PARTNERS, BROADSPECTRUM LIMITED – ASX BRS, TRANSGRID, VEDA GROUP LIMITED – ASX VED, EQUIFAX INCORPORATED, ASCIANO LIMITED – ASX AIO, CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTX, CHEVRON CORPORATION, HEALTHSCOPE LIMITED – ASX HSO, TPG CAPITAL LP, THE CARLYLE GROUP

Listed companies too afraid to provide guidance, study says

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jonathan Shapiro
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 11 : 8-Dec-15

McGrathNicol has released a report which shows that just 49 per cent of the 104 Australian-listed companies it surveyed have released earnings guidance in 2015, compared with 57 per cent in 2014. The survey also found that the number of companies that met or exceeded their earnings guidance fell from 69 per cent in 2014 to 64 per cent. Factors such as concern about class actions and challenging market conditions in some sectors have contributed to companies’ reluctance to release earnings guidance.

CORPORATES
McGRATH NICOL AND PARTNERS SERVICES PTY LTD, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, BROADSPECTRUM LIMITED – ASX BRS, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, PACIFIC BRANDS LIMITED – ASX PBG

Credit Suisse picks 2016 stocks, predicts ASX at 6000 end next year

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 3-Dec-15

Credit Suisse is upbeat about the Australian sharemarket in 2016, forecasting that the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index will rise to the 6,000-point level by the end of the calendar year. The firm expects more companies to pursue strategies such as mergers/acquisitions and cost reductions. It has identified Macquarie Group, Nine Entertainment Company, AGL Energy, Carsales.com, Aristocrat Leisure and Lend Lease as stocks that should perform well in 2016.

CORPORATES
CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, CARSALES.COM LIMITED – ASX CAR, ARISTOCRAT LEISURE LIMITED – ASX ALL, LEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, MEDIBANK PRIVATE LIMITED – ASX MPL, HEALTHSCOPE LIMITED – ASX HSO

Do the numbers add up for a Santa rally?

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Philip Baker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 2-Dec-15

Despite a strong performance by the S&P/ASX 200 on 1 December 2015, the prospects for the Australian sharemarket experiencing a "Santa rally" remain uncertain. The local market has risen on 10 consecutive trading days just twice since the inception of the current benchmark index, and it has not recorded a nine-day winning run since 2004. Historical analysis shows that the local market gains an average of 2.03 per cent in the month of December.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX, BLOOMBERG LP