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Court action looms after Fairfax shareholders vote for Nine merger

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Original article by
The New Daily – Page: Online : 20-Nov-18

Former Domain CEO Anthony Catalano has indicated that he will challenge the Nine Entertainment Company-Fairfax Media merger in court after 81.49 per cent of Fairfax shareholders voted in favour of the deal. Catalano had failed in a bid to have the shareholder vote delayed for two weeks to allow the Fairfax board to consider his alternative proposal. The merger will reduce the number of major media companies in Australia from five to four.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, SEVEN NETWORK LIMITED, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS

AUD surges to near 3-month high on trade war optimism – November 19, 2018

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The Australian dollar has reversed early session weakness to leap through technical resistance and trade above 0.7300 to the highest level since late-August.  The moves came after US President Donald Trump said he is optimistic about resolving the trade war with China ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 meeting this month.  Whilst Trump was positive with his remarks, he also was quoted as saying “hopefully, we will make a deal, and if we don’t, we are doing very well just the way it is right now,” which suggests the onus is on China to meet Trump’s demands, or else the current tariffs will remain in place.

For now though the comments were enough to send the AUD surging higher, where it leapt from a session low of 0.7250 to touch 0.7337, before closing the week at 0.7330.  It was a good week for the Aussie, building off momentum generated from the US mid-terms and local employment data released by the ABS which showed continued growth in jobs added and the unemployment rate held steady at 5.00%.

This week the economic calendar is quite thin, with the RBA monetary policy meeting minutes and US core durable goods orders the highlights.  This could be the catalyst for a week of consolidation for the Aussie dollar in the absence of any major announcements.  Looking at the charts, there appears to be resistance at 0.7360 and 0.7380, representing trading highs in August.  If there is a break back below 0.7300, 0.7250 is the next key level of support.

The Australian dollar has also garnered support against the British pound, where on Friday it reached a 3-month high.  Political woes surrounding the UK’s exit from the European Union are weighing heavily on the pound, with PM Teresa May under extreme pressure from within her own party, with many of her colleagues criticising the handling of the divorce negotiations and there are rumours that a leadership challenge could be launched at any moment.

Economically speaking the sterling probably should be trading higher than it currently is, however all of this political uncertainty is preventing any sustained move higher.  Expect Brexit to dominate the headlines this week too whilst Teresa May tries to keep her party aligned and progress Brexit proceedings.

AUD/GBP closed the week at 0.5708, now up 6.5% from the October 11 low.  There appears to be resistance at 0.5750 followed by 0.5775, representing trading highs in June and August respectively.  Support starts at 0.5650 but given the wide trading range seen in recent time, it wouldn’t surprise if we see further moves beyond 0.5650 if the UK parliament can approve the Brexit divorce bill.

James King
Head of FX Dealing, AFEX
www.afex.com

Banks might be warming to lithium

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 16-Nov-18

Patrick Cocquerel of Westpac says the lack of a benchmark price for lithium has made banks somewhat reluctant to provide financing for Australian lithium producers. The nation’s burgeoning lithium industry has instead been largely financed via debt, equity, specialist lenders and payments from forward sales of the metal. Foreign banks have also been more willing to provide financing for lithium projects, but Cocquerel notes that local banks – including Westpac – are becoming more active in the sector.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, PILBARA MINERALS LIMITED – ASX PLS, GALAXY RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX GXY, BNP PARIBAS SA, KIDMAN RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX KDR, SOCIEDAD QUIMICA Y MINERA SA, S&P GLOBAL MARKET INTELLIGENCE, ALBERMARLE CORPORATION

Seven West tightens belt in slow ad market

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich, Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 21 : 15-Nov-18

Seven West Media has advised that its net cost savings for 2018-19 will be within the range of $20m to $30m, compared with previous guidance of $10m to $20m. CEO Tim Worner says Seven will seek to capitalise on any opportunities that arise from the proposed merger between Nine Entertainment and Fairfax Media. Meanwhile, chairman Kerry Stokes has told Seven’s AGM that foreign digital platforms continue to have an advantage over traditional media companies in competing for advertising revenue.

CORPORATES
SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, CRICKET AUSTRALIA, BIG BASH LEAGUE, FOXTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Kiwi publisher says consortium keen to buy Financial Review

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 15-Nov-18

New Zealand businessman Todd Scott has expressed interest in buying "The Australian Financial Review" if Fairfax Media’s proposed merger with Nine Entertainment Company proceeds. Scott owns "The National Business Review", a weekly business newspaper that boasts about 5,000 subscribers. He says a deal to acquire the AFR would be backed by a consortium of wealthy New Zealanders. Scott adds that the consortium would look at acquiring Fairfax’s NZ division, Stuff, if the AFR were not for sale.

CORPORATES
FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, STUFF LIMITED, TPG CAPITAL LP, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, NZME LIMITED – ASX NZM, NEW ZEALAND. COMMERCE COMMISSION, COURT OF APPEAL (NEW ZEALAND), NEIGHBOURLY, MEDIAWORKS (NZ) LIMITED

Fairfax within reach as Nine sticks to script

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich
The Australian – Page: 17 & 21 : 15-Nov-18

Shareholders at Nine Entertainment Company’s AGM have been told that it will be better placed to compete with digital giants for advertising revenue if the merger with Fairfax Media proceeds. Nine chairman Peter Costello and CEO Hugh Marks expect Fairfax shareholders to approve the deal on 19 November, saying the feedback from Fairfax directors and investors has been positive. Costello has also stressed that Nine will retain all of Fairfax’s brands. Meanwhile, Nine has advised that it still expects 2018-19 earnings to be within the range of $280m to $300m.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, MACQUARIE MEDIA LIMITED – ASX MRN, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, OWNERSHIP MATTERS PTY LTD, CGI GLASS LEWIS PTY LTD, INSTITUTIONAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN SHAREHOLDERS’ ASSOCIATION, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, NETFLIX INCORPORATED, GOOGLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

ABC news chief backs staff amid Guthrie-Milne fallout

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Original article by Lilly Vitorovich, John Ferguson
The Australian – Page: 5 : 14-Nov-18

The fallout from a "Four Corners" story on the ABC’s recent leadership crisis is continuing, with Liberal senator Eric Abetz saying it demonstrated that the public broadcaster is in "disarray". Amongst other things, former MD Michelle Guthrie alleged that ex-chairman Justin Milne had touched her inappropriately, while allegations were raised about political interference at the ABC. Meanwhile, director of news Gavin Morris has praised the ABC’s staff, noting their ­integrity and professionalism.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

ABC execs paid bonuses to stay

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Original article by Stephen Brook
The Australian – Page: 24 & 26 : 12-Nov-18

Sources within the ABC have indicated that its board approved bonuses to retain a number of senior executives after Michelle Guthrie succeeded Mark Scott as MD in 2016. Acting MD David ­Anderson is said to be among the executives who received a retention bonus. Former COO David Pendleton, who resigned in 2017, is also said to have been offered such a bonus. Executive remuneration at the public broadcaster has come under scrutiny after its latest annual report showed that bonus payments exceeded $2m in 2017-18.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION

Nine-Fairfax deal has investor support

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Original article by Max Mason
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 34 : 12-Nov-18

Fairfax Media’s merger with Nine Entertainment Company will require the support of at least 75 per cent of votes cast at the newspaper publisher’s meeting of shareholders on 19 November. The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors and leading proxy advisors are said to support the merger, although the proposed deal has been criticised by the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance. The merger is also subject to approval by the Federal Court.

CORPORATES
NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ, DOMAIN HOLDINGS AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX DHA, STAN ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SUPERANNUATION TRUSTEES, MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE, CGI GLASS LEWIS PTY LTD, OWNERSHIP MATTERS PTY LTD, INSTITUTIONAL SHAREHOLDER SERVICES INCORPORATED, MARTIN CURRIE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AUD breakout topside loses steam, wage price data now in focus – AFEX Monday Update – November 12, 2018

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The Australian dollar finally enjoyed some upside in the first half of last week after many months of downward pressure. The initial breakout of the long-term downtrend that had been in play since January on the first day of the month quickly gained momentum. An overall optimistic RBA coupled with the Democrats winning majority in the House of Representatives during the US Midterms gave even more support to the AUD, enabling it to test resistance just above 0.7300, before the moves ran out of steam throughout Friday’s trading sessions.

The moves initially appeared technical, with the AUD reaching a double top near 0.7300 resistance and traders taking profits on the moves, but with the US printing strong producer price index late in the session, the AUD/USD losses extended and it closed the week at 0.7225.

Looking ahead and there are several key economic releases this week that should help drive the Australian dollar:

  • Australian wage price index (Wed)
  • Chinese fixed asset investment and industrial production (Wed)
  • US CPI (Wed)
  • Australian employment (Thu)
  • US retail sales (Thu)

With the US Fed likely to keep raising interest rates whilst the RBA remains on hold, the attractiveness of higher US interest rates should keep the USD supported over the longer-term. As a result, if the AUD is to find any support short-term, it needs to see domestic data outperform. The RBA is unlikely to move on interest rates until it sees inflation and wage growth lift. Therefore Wednesday’s quarterly wage prix index will be closely monitored by traders. A strong number would likely see the AUD retest last week’s highs at 0.7302, however a weak number would likely put further weight on the Aussie and potentially see a 0.71 handle once again.

James King
Head of FX Dealing, AFEX
www.afex.com