ECONOMIC INDICATORS – AUSTRALIA

Sydney unit rents on par with houses as affordability bites

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 20-Jul-17

Data from Domain Group shows that the median weekly rent for apartments in Sydney rose by 4.8 per cent in the year to June 2017. The median weekly rent for detached houses increased by 3.8 per cent. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent for apartments and houses in Melbourne increased by 5.3 per cent and five per cent respectively. The figures also show that the median house price in Sydney rose by 1.6 per cent to a new high of $A1,178,417 in the June quarter, while the median price in Melbourne rose 3.5 per cent to $A865,712.

CORPORATES
DOMAIN.COM.AU, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ

Economy on the rise: Morrison

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Original article by David Uren
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 20-Jul-17

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison will address a conference in Melbourne on 20 July 2017. He will note that key indicators – such as business and consumer sentiment, corporate profits and job advertisements – show that the Australian economy is gaining strength. Morrison will also caution against trying to return the Budget to surplus too quickly, as this could potentially stall economic growth. Meanwhile, Morrison argues that although Australia’s gross debt now exceeds $A500bn, it would be closer to $A1trn if the Australian Labor Party was still in office.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE. INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged at 112.5

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Jul-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence edged down 0.4% to 112.5 in the week ended 16 July 2017, following a 1.3% fall the previous week. The details were mixed. Consumers were quite optimistic about their financial conditions next year, but were less upbeat towards the current financial situation. Households’ views around current financial conditions fell 1.8%, following two straight weekly rises. Views towards future conditions were more upbeat, with the sub-index rising a solid 3.7%. Both sub-indexes remain close to their long-term averages. Consumers’ views towards current economic conditions remained unchanged, but views around future economic conditions fell 1.6%, following a 2.5% decline previously. Both sub-indexes remain under their long-term averages.

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

PM’s pitch as business rebounds

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Original article by Adam Creed
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 12-Jul-17

National Australia Bank’s latest business survey shows that there was a month-on-month improvement in sales, profits and trading conditions in June 2017. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who addressed a business forum in London on 11 July, cited the data as proof that the Australian economy is growing and has not been unduly affected by a fall in mining investment. He attributed the continued resilience of the domestic economy to factors such as Australia’s stance on free trade. Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen argues that low wages growth is the main issue of concern for workers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ARRIUM LIMITED – ASX ARI, PACIFIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, ENERGYAUSTRALIA PTY LTD, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence steady at long-term average – now 113.0

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 12-Jul-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence slipped 1.3% to 113.0 in the week ended 9 July 2017, following a 2.4% rise the previous week. The details were mixed. Consumers were less optimistic about economic conditions but relatively more upbeat about their current finances. Households’ views around current financial conditions continued to climb last week, (up 1.4%) after a solid 3.8% rise previously. Consumers were less optimistic about future financial conditions, however. This sub-index fell 0.8% last week, entirely unwinding its previous rise. Confidence around current economic conditions fell 6.2%, largely reversing gains over the previous three weeks. Views around future economic conditions fell 2.5%. This sub-index remains below its long-term average.

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

It’s official: June employment is at a record high of 12,330,000

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 10-Jul-17

A Roy Morgan survey on unemployment and under-employment shows that the total Australian workforce was a record 13,530,000 in June 2017 (up 540,000 in 12 months) and employment grew to a record 12,330,000 (up a large 587,000). The number of Australians who were unemployed and looking for work was 1,200,000 (down 47,000), while 1.445 million were under-employed (10.7% of the workforce). A total of 2.645 million Australians (19.6% of the workforce) were looking for work or looking for more work. Australia’s real unemployment for June was 8.9%, compared with the official Australian Bureau of Statistics figure of 5.5% for May. Roy Morgan Research executive chairman Gary Morgan says June was the 21st straight month more than two million Australians have been looking for work or looking for more work and is a concern ahead of the imminent closure of the Australian automotive manufacturing industry in three months.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rises across the board – up 2.7pts to 114.5

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 5-Jul-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rose 2.4% to 114.5 in the week ended 2 July 2017, bringing the index to its highest point since early April and above the long-run average. The rise in confidence was broad-based, with all sub-indices posting gains. The volatility in households’ views around current financial conditions continues, with the sub index rising 3.8%. Consumers were less optimistic about future financial conditions. This sub index rose 0.8% last week, only partially offsetting the 1.7% decline in the previous week. Confidence around both current and future economic conditions rose solidly (+3.7% and +3.0% respectively). The current economic conditions sub index now sits at its highest point since mid-March.

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

Business Confidence down in June to 111.8 driven by declines in the Retail and Electricity industries

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 5-Jul-17

Business Confidence in Australia fell 2pts (-1.8%) to 111.8 in June, according to the Roy Morgan Business Single Source survey. Business Confidence declined on the back of falling expectations of the Australian economy, with fewer businesses expecting "good times" for the economy in both the short-term and the long-term. Some 46.9% (down 6.3ppts) of businesses expect "good times" for the economy over the next year and 49.6% (down 0.9ppts) expect "good times" for the economy over the next five years. Meanwhile, 46% (up 5.2ppts) of businesses expect "bad times" for the economy over the next year and 42.5% (up 2.4ppts) expect "bad times" for the economy over the next five years. Roy Morgan Research CEO Michele Levine says the back-to-back declines for Business Confidence over the past two months has seen Business Confidence dip below the ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence rating for the first time since early March.

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence edges lower again to 111.8 (down 0.6pts)

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 28-Jun-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence edged 0.5% lower to 111.8 in the week ended 25 June 2017, down for the second week in a row. The sub-indicators continue to show volatility. Households’ views around current financial conditions were largely unchanged (down 0.2%), while views towards future conditions fell 1.7%, following four consecutive weeks of gains. Households’ confidence in future economic conditions ticked 0.4% lower last week, while expectations of current economic conditions edged 2.4% higher, up for the second consecutive week.

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence stability masks volatility in the sub-indices – down 0.5pts to 112.4

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Jun-17

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence fell 0.4 per cent to 112.4 in the week ended 18 June 2017. Broadly, though, confidence has recovered from the mid-May low. That said, there continues to be significant volatility between sub-indices. Households’ expectations of current economic conditions edged up 0.6%, after a 5.2% decline the previous week. However, households’ confidence in future economic conditions rose 2.8%, more than offsetting the 2.6% fall in the previous week. Meanwhile, households’ views around current financial conditions dropped 8.1%, unwinding most of the 9.4% jump in the previous week. Views towards future conditions edged up 0.2%. This sub-index is at its highest point in seven weeks.

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