COMPANY RESULTS – AUSTRALIA

Analysts cool on CBA’s $2.4b profit

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 17 : 6-Nov-15

The Commonwealth Bank has posted an unaudited profit of $A2.4bn for the September 2015 quarter, which is four per cent higher year-on-year. The major bank’s trading update also indicated that its exposure to impaired and doubtful loans fell from $A6bn to $A5.5bn during the period, while deposits accounted for 63 per cent of its funding. The group’s tier one capital ratio rose to 9.8 per cent during the quarter following a $A5.1bn equity raising.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, WATERMARK FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, ALPHINITY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, FOLKESTONE MAXIM ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED

Shining Star’s locals make up for slump in high-roller gamblers

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Original article by Jessica Gardner
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 5-Nov-15

Echo Entertainment Group’s shareholders approved a resolution to change its name to The Star Entertainment Group at the 2015 AGM. The listed casino operator also revealed that its domestic revenue was 8.7 per cent higher than previously in the first four months of 2015-16, although revenue from high-rollers fell by 33.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the group intends to rebadge its Queensland casinos as The Star, a brand that it currently uses in Sydney.

CORPORATES
ECHO ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LIMITED – ASX EGP, THE STAR, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, MELCO CROWN ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

Kikki.K just outpaces Smiggle

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 4-Nov-15

Australian retailer Kikki.K has posted a 2014-15 net profit of $A1.1m, while sales rose by 28 per cent to $A60.9m. The stationery retailer’s sales and store numbers have risen strongly in the last five years. Rival stationery retailer Smiggle posted sales of $A132.6m in fiscal 2015, which is 26 per cent higher than previously, while OfficeWorks’ sales were up 8.8 per cent at $A1.7bn.

CORPORATES
KIKKI.K PTY LTD, SMIGGLE PTY LTD, PREMIER INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX PMV, OFFICEWORKS SUPERSTORES PTY LTD, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, AUSTRALIAN SECURITIES AND INVESTMENTS COMMISSION, BOOST JUICE PTY LTD, ECORP LIMITED, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, JURLIQUE INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD, KORDA MENTHA AND COLLEAGUES PTY LTD, 333 CAPITAL PTY LTD

The winds of change will hit companies

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Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Age – Page: 27 : 30-Oct-15

Morgan Stanley forecasts that the El Nino weather phenomenon will benefit Australian-listed companies across a range of sectors during the 2015-16 summer. Coca-Cola Amatil, JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Origin Energy and AGL Energy are among the companies that are tipped to enjoy stronger revenue due to the warmer weather associated with El Nino. Mining companies and insurers are also expected to benefit, but wheat, grain and beef producers in particular are likely to be adversely affected.

CORPORATES
MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, COCA-COLA AMATIL LIMITED – ASX CCL, JB HI-FI LIMITED – ASX JBH, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, INSURANCE AUSTRALIA GROUP LIMITED – ASX IAG, QBE INSURANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX QBE, GRAINCORP LIMITED – ASX GNC

Consumers ‘happiest in seven years’

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 22 : 28-Oct-15

Harvey Norman has posted pre-tax earnings of $A91.8m for the first quarter of 2015-16, which is 27.8 per cent higher than previously. The retailer’s same-store sales in Australia rose by 7.1 per cent year-on-year, and chairman Gerry Harvey says consumer confidence is at its highest level for at least seven years. Fantastic Holdings and Super Retail Group have also reported healthy growth in sales so far in 2015-16. The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index has increased by 0.1 per cent to 113.4 in the last week.

CORPORATES
HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, FANTASTIC HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX FAN, SUPER RETAIL GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUL, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, PACIFIC BRANDS LIMITED – ASX PBG, NONI B LIMITED – ASX NBL, SUPER CHEAP AUTO, REBEL SPORT LIMITED, RAY’S OUTDOORS, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, CITIGROUP PTY LTD

Coles spends $100m on keeping food prices low

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 18 : 23-Oct-15

Wesfarmers-owned Coles has reported that its food and liquor sales rose by 4.7 per cent to $A7.6bn in the September 2015 quarter. Grocery prices at Coles supermarkets fell by 1.3 per cent during the period, with the group spending $A100m on price cuts. Coles intends to maintain this level of spending in the next several quarters, in the wake of Woolworths’ plans to spend $A500m on cutting grocery prices. The Bunnings, Kmart and Target businesses also recorded sales growth in the quarter.

CORPORATES
COLES GROUP LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, WOOLWORTH CORPORATION, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, KMART AUSTRALIA LIMITED, TARGET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Analysts wary of Woodside Petroleum hiking Oil Search offer price

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Original article by Brian Robins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 16-Oct-15

Woodside Petroleum’s revenue rose by 21 per cent to $US1.09bn ($A1.5bn) in the September 2015 quarter, although it fell by 44.6 per cent year-on-year due to the impact of the lower crude oil price. Production was 26 per cent higher than the June quarter, at 25.3 million barrels of oil equivalent. Meanwhile, some analysts have downplayed the potential for Woodside to increase its takeover offer for Oil Search.

CORPORATES
WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, GMP SECURITIES LP, CHEVRON CORPORATION

Treasury enjoys vintage Asian returns

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Original article by Simon Evans
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 19 : 7-Oct-15

Australian-listed Treasury Wine Estates has indicated that it is performing well in all of the regions in which it operates. CEO Mike Clarke notes that the wine group is performing particularly well in Asia. Treasurer’s Asian division posted a $A73.1m profit in 2014-15, which was 53 per cent higher than previously. The global launch of the latest Penfolds Grange vintage will be held in Shanghai.

CORPORATES
TREASURY WINE ESTATES LIMITED – ASX TWE, PENFOLDS WINES PTY LTD, WOLF BLASS WINES PTY LTD, STERLING VINEYARDS, DIAGEO PLC, BLOSSOM HILL WINERY, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, PREMIER FOODS PLC, FOSTER’S GROUP LIMITED

Myer investors blame guidance for 25pc plunge

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 4-Sep-15

Myer’s share price plunged 25 per cent as the stock emerged from a two-day trading halt on 3 September 2015. The stock fell to a record low of $A.090 on 3 September 2015. More than 35 million shares changed hands in the wake of the poor 2015 profit result and a disappointing outlook for 2016. However, there was support for the $A600 million "New Myer" turnaround plan proposed by CEO Richard Umbers.

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, GOLDMAN SACHS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Retail A-REIT rejig mix to safeguard earnings

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Original article by Larry Schlesinger
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 38 : 3-Sep-15

Earnings growth was driven by specialty tenants such as cinemas, fashion and food, according to listed retail property trusts. Fund managers predicted further attention to the tenant mix in malls to enhance portfolio quality. Attracting global brands also remained a focus.

CORPORATES
CHARTER HALL RETAIL REIT – ASX CQR, FEDERATION CENTRES – ASX FDC, NOVION PROPERTY GROUP, SCENTRE GROUP – ASX SCG, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, SHOPPING CENTRES AUSTRALASIA PROPERTY GROUP – ASX SCP, WESTFIELD CORPORATION – ASX WFD, BWP TRUST – ASX BWP, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED