BUSINESS – AUSTRALIA

Business Confidence in 2018 driven by larger businesses

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-Mar-18

In Australia, Business Confidence declined 3.5pts (-5.2%) to 120.0 in February 2018, according to the latest Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey. However, despite the month-on-month fall, Business Confidence has begun 2018 with the best two-month performance since 2014 – driven largely by businesses with an annual turnover of $5 million or more. A clear majority of businesses, 56.1% (up 0.8ppts), say now is a ‘good time to invest’ in growing the business, while February Roy Morgan Business Confidence remains just above the weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence, which is at 119.0 on March 3/4, 2018.

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

Business Confidence jumps 3.3pts in December to 117.4

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-Jan-18

In Australia, Business Confidence rose 3.3pts (+2.9%) to 117.4 in December 2017, according to the latest Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey, after the Federal Government won two critical by-elections to retain a governing majority. Businesses are the most positive heading into a new year since 2013, with 57.3% (up 3ppts) of businesses saying now is a "good time to invest in growing the business". Meanwhile, 52.2% (up 2.5ppts) of businesses expect "good times" financially over the next 12 months and 49.8% (up 5.8ppts) say the business will be "better off" financially this time next year. The large increase in Business Confidence in December was driven by rises in confidence in industries such as Manufacturing, Agriculture, forestry & fishing, Education & training, and Information media and telecommunications.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

KPMG chair: chiefs should admit to errors

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Original article by Damon Kitney
The Australian – Page: 13 : 3-Jan-18

New KPMG chairwoman Alison Kitchen has urged corporate Australia to be more proactive when it comes to condemning bad behaviour within its ranks. Kitchen says companies should not wait for whistleblowers to disclose their problems, and that the community is tired of businesses not being prepared to own up to their mistakes. She says that if companies were willing to admit they had problems and had taken steps to fix them, that this might help to restore a level of community trust in the business sector.

CORPORATES
KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, CALTEX AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX CTX, DOMINO’S PIZZA ENTERPRISES LIMITED – ASX DMP, RETAIL FOOD GROUP LIMITED – ASX RFG, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION

Business Confidence up 1.4pts in November to 114.1

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Dec-17

Business Confidence in Australia rose 1.4pts (+1.2%) to 114.1 in November 2017, according to the Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey, despite political issues for the Federal Government facing two by-elections over the next fortnight. Some 49.7% (up 1.9ppts) of businesses expect "good times" for the Australian economy over the next year, while 44.2% (down 1.6ppts) expect "bad times". Meanwhile, 44% (down 1.8ppts) of businesses say their business will be "better off" financially this time next year, while 20.3% (down 2.9ppts) expect the business to be "worse off" this time next year. The small increase in Business Confidence in November was driven by rises in confidence in industries including Finance & Insurance, Accommodation & Food services, Professional, scientific & technical and Education & training.

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

Business Confidence down again in September to 113.2

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Oct-17

Business Confidence in Australia fell 1.2pts (-1.0%) to 113.2 in September 2017, according to the Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey, as discussion continued about the mounting cost of energy heading towards the peak Summer season. Some 48.5% of businesses expect to be "better off" financially this time next year, while only 20.1% expect to be "worse off". Meanwhile, 51% of businesses now expect "good times" for the Australian economy over the next year, while 43.2% expect "bad times". The fall in Business Confidence was driven by falls in confidence in several industries, including Transport, postal & warehousing, Information, Media & Telecommunications, Finance & Insurance and Accommodation & Food services.

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

Labour market holding us back

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 4 : 27-Sep-17

Switzerland, the US and Singapore are the highest-rated countries in the World Economic Forum’s latest global competitiveness index. Australia is ranked 21st out of 137 countries, with the nation performing poorly on a number of key indicators. Australia is ranked 28th in terms of labour market efficiency and 72nd for co-operation in labour-employer relations. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey has found that restrictive labour market practices, taxes and government bureaucracy are the biggest problems when doing business in Australia.

CORPORATES
WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

Soaring electricity prices an obstacle to wage rises

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Original article by Jacob Greber, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 8-Sep-17

Employers’ groups have warned that the rising cost of electricity is affecting their capacity to grant pay rises. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox notes that companies’ margins are being hurt by rising power costs, while consumers in turn are reducing their overall spending due to the impact of power price hikes. Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry CEO James Pearson adds that many companies are delaying investment decision due to rising power costs, and some are considering relocating offshore.

CORPORATES
THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, COUNCIL OF SMALL BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Business Confidence down in August to 114.4 as high energy prices a threat to economic growth

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 4-Sep-17

Business Confidence in Australia fell 2.6pts (-2.2%) to 114.4 in August 2017, according to the Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey, following extensive discussions about the high cost of energy in Australia. However, businesses remain largely positive with a majority of businesses expecting to be "better off" financially this time next year (51.7%), and most businesses say now is a good time to invest in growing the business (54.9%). The fall in Business Confidence was driven by large falls in confidence in several industries including Manufacturing, Electricity, Gas, Water and Personal, repair and other services.

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

Corporates finally ramp up capex

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Original article by Jacob Greber
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Sep-17

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that private-sector companies anticipate capital expenditure of $A101.8bn in 2017-18. This is 17.6 per cent higher than had been forecast three months ago, and compares with analysts’ expectations of $A95.9bn. The figures also show that there was an 0.8 per cent increase in capex during the final quarter of 2016-17. Telstra and Santos are among the companies that have recently announced plans for increased capex in 2017-18.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, PERENNIAL VALUE MANAGEMENT LIMITED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY

Business Confidence up in July to 117.0 driven by Agriculture, Construction, Information, Media & Telcos

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 7-Aug-17

Business Confidence in Australia rose 5.2pts (+4.7%) to 117.0 in July, according to the Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey. The rise in Business Confidence was driven by strong increases in several industries including Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Construction, and Information, media and telecommunications. Business Confidence increased on the back of rising expectations of the Australian economy, with a majority of businesses now expecting "good times" for the economy in both the short-term – 52.7% (up 5.8ppts) and long-term – 51.2% (up 1.6ppts). Expectations for their own businesses have also increased, with 44.5% (up 5.8ppts) saying the business is "better off" financially than this time last year and 47.4% (up 3ppts) expecting the business to be "better off" financially this time next year. The rise in Business Confidence mirrors a strengthening weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating, which increased by 5.9pts (+5.2%) in the last two weeks of July to 118.4.

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