BUSINESS FORECASTING – AUSTRALIA

Super funds looking at 10pc-plus growth

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 20-Jun-14

Data from Chant West shows that the average Australian superannuation fund achieved a return of 1.1 per cent in May 2014, and 12.6 per cent in the first 11 months of the 2013-14 financial year. Director Warren Chant expects super funds to deliver a positive return for the fifth year in 2013-14, with a double-digit return likely for many funds. Shares, bonds and infrastructure are among the asset classes that have performed well in 2013-14

CORPORATES
CHANT WEST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD, SUPERRATINGS PTY LTD

Shell deal may hurt Woodside growth plans

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 20 : 6/19/2014

The stock of Australian-listed energy group Woodside Petroleum on 18 June 2014 closed $A1.95 lower at $A40.90. This compares with a price of $A41.35 for the institutional investors acquiring scrip in the partial divestment of its Woodside stake by Royal Dutch Shell. As part of the reduction from 23.1% to less than 4.5%, Shell is also selling $US2.68bn ($A2.86bn) worth of stock back to Woodside. Experts warn this may hamper the latter’s acquisitions strategy. Woodside needs to secure a major new project to fill a gap once current LNG developments mature

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD

QBE eyes up RSA’s Asia division

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Original article by Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 6/19/2014

Australian insurance analysts have downplayed speculation that QBE Insurance Group could bid for the Asian arm of UK-based RSA Insurance Group. The business is expected to fetch up to $A500m, and media reports have identified QBE as a potential buyer. However, Ross Curran of the Commonwealth Bank says QBE is likely to focus on consolidating its existing operations instead of seeking acquisitions

CORPORATES
QBE INSURANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX QBE, RSA INSURANCE GROUP PLC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AXA SA, SOMPO JAPAN INSURANCE INCORPORATED, ALLIANZ AG HOLDING, HANG SENG GENERAL INSURANCE (HONG KONG) COMPANY LIMITED, THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INCORPORATED, REUTERS HOLDINGS PLC, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Goodman to recycle $1.4 billion in assets

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Original article by Robert Harley
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 34 : 13-Jun-14

Goodman Group plans to reinvest the proceeds of property sales into the development of new projects. The Australian-listed company’s property portfolio is valued at around $A26.4bn, and it intends to offload some $A1.4bn worth of property in Australia and offshore. Goodman has forecast that its 2013-14 operating earnings will be about seven per cent higher than previously

CORPORATES
GOODMAN GROUP – ASX GMG, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED