K: Financial and Insurance Services

Time running out for tax-loss selling

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 19-Jun-17

Katana Asset Management’s Romano Sala Tenna notes that Australian investors traditionally engaged in tax-loss selling in the final week of June. However, he says investors are increasingly selling underperforming stocks well before the end of the financial year. Quantitative analysis shows that stock which experience a sharp sell-off in May and June typically rebound over the first few months of the new fiscal year. Stocks that have been subject to tax-loss selling in 2017 include Mayne Pharma, APN Outdoor Group and Harvey Norman.

CORPORATES
KATANA ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, MAYNE PHARMA GROUP LIMITED – ASX MYX, APN OUTDOOR GROUP LIMITED – ASX APO, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, SUPER RETAIL GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUL, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, SPOTLESS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SPO, SLATER AND GORDON LIMITED – ASX SGH, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE

IPO tale: more floats, less cash

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Scott Murdoch
The Australian – Page: 20 : 19-Jun-17

A total of 137 companies listed on the Australian sharemarket during the first five months of 2017, compared with 113 for the same period in 2016. However, the total value of initial capital raised has fallen from $A22.6bn to just $A13.67bn, and the total value of secondary capital raised has fallen from $A43.5bn to $A35.5bn. Simon Poidevin of Bell Potter anticipates an upturn in secondary capital raisings in the new financial year as companies seek growth via acquisitions.

CORPORATES
BELL POTTER SECURITIES LIMITED, BINGO INDUSTRIES LIMITED – ASX BIN, OFFICEWORKS SUPERSTORES PTY LTD, ZIP INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA, CRAVEABLE BRANDS LIMITED, RED ROOSTER FOODS, OPORTO PTY LTD, KELLY PARTNERS GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX KPG, NUTRANO PRODUCE GROUP, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX

Levy a shock for foreign investors: NAB

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 16-Jun-17

The Senate Economics Legislation Committee is currently investigating the bill to implement the Federal Government’s proposed bank levy. National Australia Bank CFO Gary Lennon says foreign investors have expressed concern to him about the tax, including the rushed manner in which it has been adopted. Amongst other things, submissions to the committee have argued that the bill should include a "sunset clause" and that the tax should cover foreign banks.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA. SENATE ECONOMICS LEGISLATION COMMITEE, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED – ASX MBL, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIAN BANKERS’ ASSOCIATION, ME BANK, BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LIMITED – ASX BEN, CUSTOMER OWNED BANKING ASSOCIATION, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

ASX ripe for activist investors: Credit Suisse

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 27 : 15-Jun-17

Hasan Tevfik of Credit Suisse expects more activist investors to target Australian-listed stocks in the wake of Elliott Management’s push for a restructuring at BHP Billiton. He says activist investment is gaining momentum in Australia and it is inevitable that local superannuation funds will adopt this strategy given the returns achieved by activist hedge funds in North America. Caltex, AMP, News Corporation and Lendlease are among the companies that are seen as potential targets for activist investors.

CORPORATES
CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, ELLIOTT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTX, AMP LIFE LIMITED, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, LEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC, CSR LIMITED – ASX CSR, MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, TRIBECA INVESTMENT PARTNERS PTY LTD, ESCALA PARTNERS LIMITED, ARDENT LEISURE GROUP – ASX AAD, BRICKWORKS LIMITED – ASX BKW, WASHINGTON H SOUL PATTINSON AND COMPANY LIMITED – ASX SOL, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, LIM ADVISORS LIMITED, AMP CAPITAL CHINA GROWTH FUND

Mortgage rate hikes pressure income

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 24 : 14-Jun-17

Data from RateCity shows that Australian mortgage interest rates for investors and borrowers with interest-only loans have generally risen by about 56 basis points in the last two months. Lenders have increased home loan interest rates seven times in the last two years, with rates for interest-only loans rising more quickly than those for owner-occupiers as lenders seek to shift customers from interest-only loans to principal-and-interest products. Martin Crabb of Shaw & Partners notes that a rise in home loan repayments is having an adverse impact on the level of household savings.

CORPORATES
RATECITY PTY LTD, SHAW AND PARTNERS LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Tech sell-off isn’t end of the world

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by Philip Baker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 14-Jun-17

The Nasdaq Composite Index has gained nearly 15 per cent so far in 2017, despite shedding 2.5 per cent in the last two trading sessions. While shares in the so-called FAANG stocks (Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google parent Alphabet) have been heavily sold down in recent days, they have all posted strong gains so far in the calendar year. Meanwhile, although US technology stocks are widely considered to be overvalued, the price-to-earnings ratio of the Nasdaq 100 is trading at around 20.3, compared with a peak of around 45 prior to the "tech wreck" in 2000.

CORPORATES
NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, APPLE INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, ALPHABET INCORPORATED

Technology plunge raises fears of meltdown

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 13-Jun-17

The Nasdaq Composite Index reached a record high on 9 June 2017, before closing down 1.8 per cent amid bearish sentiment toward technology stocks. Shares in Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google parent Alphabet shed 3-5 per cent. The sell-off was prompted by a range of factors, including a report from Goldman Sachs suggesting that many US technology stocks are overvalued. Analysts have downplayed comparisons with the "tech wreck", while Bruce McCain of Key Private Bank says a pullback in the sector was inevitable.

CORPORATES
NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, APPLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, ALPHABET INCORPORATED, MICROSOFT CORPORATION, THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INCORPORATED, KEY PRIVATE BANK, CITRON RESEARCH, NVIDIA CORPORATION, DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX

Paradice mulls responsible investor fund

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Stensholt
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 13-Jun-17

Paradice Investment Management’s David Paradice says his company is considering setting up a number of new funds over the next year. He says they could include an emerging markets fund and an environmental, social and governance fund. Paradice, who is currently based in the US, was the recipient of an Order of Australia award as part of the 2017 Queen’s Birthday honours. He says he would like to see companies focus more on making communities better, as well as treating their staff better and reducing waste.

CORPORATES
PARADICE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, ALPHABET INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, CLIMATE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, SOCIAL VENTURES AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARONGA CONSERVATION SOCIETY AUSTRALIA

All eyes on Fed’s expected interest rate rise

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by John Kehoe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 13-Jun-17

Financial market pricing indicates that the US Federal Reserve is almost certain to increase official interest rates in June 2017. Data showing that the US unemployment rate fell to a 16-year low in May will strengthen the case for a rate rise. Meanwhile, market watchers will be seeking guidance from the central bank on its plans to reduce its balance sheet, which has risen to $US4.5trn as a result of quantitative easing measures.

CORPORATES
UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INCORPORATED, CITIBANK LIMITED, NASDAQ COMPOSITE INDEX, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, APPLE INCORPORATED, ALPHABET INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, CME GROUP INCORPORATED, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

Outlook ‘tough’ as economy slows

roymorgansocial Leave a comment

Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 17 & 27 : 8-Jun-17

Data from Credit Suisse shows that financial markets expect the cash rate to remain on hold in the next 12 months, following the release of the latest GDP data. The economy expanded by just 0.3 per cent in the March 2017 quarter, and year-on-year growth fell to an eight-year low of 1.7 per cent. The data will cast doubt on the Reserve Bank’s forecast of calendar year economic growth of 2.5-3.5 per cent. The Commonwealth Bank notes that the central bank will be adverse to easing the cash rate, as doing so could further inflate house prices.

CORPORATES
CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED, GOODMAN GROUP – ASX GMG