Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 5-Apr-16
New figures show that a total of 232,194 new dwellings were approved across Australia in the year to February 2016, compared with 234,002 in the year to January. A total of 115,115 apartments, townhouses and semi-detached dwellings were approved in the year to February, after peaking at 120,953 in the year to October 2015.
CORPORATES
HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LIMITED
Original article by Samantha Hutchinson
The Australian – Page: 2 : 23-Mar-16
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that there was a 1.6 per cent decline in Sydney house prices during the December 2015 quarter. Darwin was the only other capital city to record a decline in house prices, while Hobart posted the highest growth in prices, at 2.8 per cent. Housing industry executives have identified various factors as possible causes for slowing house price growth, including new restrictions on lending to property investors and a surge in house construction activity.
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN POPULATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Mar-16
The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell 0.3 per cent to 116.0 in the week ended 20 March 2016, following a strong 4.5 per cent rise over the previous fortnight. Confidence is now sitting three per cent above its long run average, and the four-week moving average is on an upward trend. The sub-index on "economic conditions in the next 12 months" rose 3.3 per cent and is now sitting just a touch below its long run average. The sub-index on "economic conditions in the next 5 years" rose 2.7 per cent.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ
Original article by Gary Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Mar-16
ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence is virtually unchanged this week at 116.0, and Roy Morgan Government Confidence has increased slightly to 103.5, both signs that Australians believe the economy is going well, which augurs well for the Turnbull Government heading towards this year’s federal election. However, support for the L-NP Government has fallen in recent weeks – this week’s Morgan Poll shows the ALP 50.5 per cent cf. L-NP 49.5 per cent on a two-party preferred basis – as the Government introduced reforms to change the Senate voting system and make it impossible for micro-parties to get elected to the Senate. In addition to forcing these contentious reforms through the Senate, Turnbull has gone back on his promises of tax cuts and this has resulted in a drop in support for the Government. Although Turnbull is using the restoration of the Australian Building & Construction Commission as a potential trigger to call an early election, the election will be fought on economic issues and taxation.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ
Original article by Tess Ingram
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 17-Mar-16
Analysis by BDO shows that about 16 per cent of the 753 Australian-listed exploration companies had no active exploration program in the December 2015 quarter. Meanwhile, 25 exploration companies delisted, were placed in administration or opted to exit the sector during the period. Meanwhile, nearly 50 per cent of companies that remain in the sector are estimated to be able to finance operating expenditure for no more than two quarters.
CORPORATES
BDO CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AND ADVISERS, DORAY MINERALS LIMITED – ASX DRM, BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION
Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 15-Mar-16
The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose 1.4 per cent to 116.4 in the week ended 13 March 2016, building on the 3.1 per cent bounce in the previous week. Confidence levels are now back to the highs seen in December, with the negative impact from financial market volatility in January now fully reversed. The subindex for "personal financial situation in the next 12 months" rose by 5.4 per cent to its highest level seen since October 2009. However, the subindex for "economic outlook in the next 12 months" fell 0.4 per cent.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ
Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Mar-16
A Roy Morgan Research survey on Australia’s labour market has found that the real unemployment rate fell from 10.3 per cent to 10 per cent in February 2016. The number of people in the workforce has risen to a record 13,174,000 (up 648,000 since February 2015), and a record 11,855,000 Australians are employed (up 710,000 in the last 12 months). Meanwhile, 1,161,000 people (8.8 per cent of the workforce) are under-employed. The official unemployment rate was four per cent in January 2016.
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET
Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 6 : 10-Mar-16
National accounts data shows that Australia’s total foreign debt has risen to more than 60 per cent of GDP, compared with just 37 per cent in 1996. Foreign debt has risen from $A180bn to more than $A1trn in the last two decades. The Australian Labor Party’s treasury spokesman, Chris Bowen, notes that public sector debt has blown out from $A90bn to $A250bn since Barnaby Joyce was dropped as finance spokesman when the Coalition was in opposition.
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FINANCE, LF ECONOMICS
Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 10-Mar-16
Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that total lending to residential property investors fell by 14.8 per cent to a seasonally adjusted $A11.36 billion in January 2016. This is the fastest rate of decline in seven years. Total lending to owner-occupiers increased by 15.9 per cent in the 12 months to January 2016.
CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, MIRVAC GROUP – ASX MGR, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD
Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 8-Mar-16
The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose 3.1 per cent to 114.8 in the week ended 6 March 2016. This reverses the fall of 2.6 per cent in the previous week, and the four-week moving average is now trending higher. Last week’s news about the strong economic growth numbers, big gains in the equity markets and a strong Australian dollar were positive factors for consumer confidence. The subindex for the "economic outlook in the next 12 months" rose 11.6 per cent, and the subindex for "economic outlook in the next 5 years" rose 8.3 per cent
CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ
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