ECONOMIC INDICATORS – AUSTRALIA

House-boom paradox may signal a structural change

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Original article by Robert Harley
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 42 : 3-Mar-16

CoreLogic has identified a paradoxical trend in the real estate market in Australia. Since 2003, the value of housing sales has risen by more than 30 per cent in Sydney and Melbourne while the number of sales has declined by nearly 20 per cent. In 2015, 482,000 houses and apartments were sold, worth a record $A293 billion. In 2003, more than 621,000 properties were sold, worth $A200 billion.

CORPORATES
CORELOGIC AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Spending spree lifts economy to highest speed in two years

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 3-Mar-16

The latest GDP data shows that the Australian economy grew by 0.6 per cent in the December 2015 quarter, and by three per cent year-on-year. The general consensus of economists was for annual growth of just 2.5 per cent. Economic growth was boosted by an increase in government and consumer spending, although the household savings rate fell to a post-global financial crisis low of 7.6 per cent. The stronger-than-expected economic growth rate will reduce the chances of further official interest rate cuts in the near-term.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7), ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence dips 3pts to 111.3

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Mar-16

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia fell by 2.6 per cent to 111.3 in the week ended 28 February 2016. The modest recovery in confidence seen in the previous three weeks proved to be short-lived. Confidence is now back to the levels seen post the financial market volatility in January and below its long run average. The weakness in confidence this week was largely driven by consumers’ views towards the economic outlook. The subindex for the "economic outlook in the next 5 years" fell 7.2 per cent, and the subindex for "economic outlook in the next 12 months" fell 6.3 per cent.

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

Fat margins drive gold output to 12-year high

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Original article by Barry FitzGerald
The Australian – Page: 18 : 29-Feb-16

A survey by Surbiton Associates shows that total gold production in Australia rose by two tonnes in 2015, to 285 tonnes, or 9.16 million ounces. Production also increased by one tonne year-on-year in the December quarter, to 73 tonnes. Surbiton’s Sandra Close expects gold production to remain strong in 2016, with several mines resuming operation.

CORPORATES
SURBITON ASSOCIATES PTY LTD, METALS X LIMITED – ASX MLX, SARACEN MINERAL HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX SAR, BLACKHAM RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX BLK, BARCLAYS BANK PLC

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence tracking up – now at 114.3

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 23-Feb-16

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose by 0.6 per cent to 114.3 in the week ended 21 February 2016. The 2.8 per cent increase over the past three weeks partially retraces the declines recorded through January. With the negative impact from the financial market volatility in early January appearing to be short-lived, confidence is now tracking higher with most sub-indexes showing an improvement. Consumer confidence in the past few weeks shows that consumers’ views towards their current personal finances and the near term economic outlook were most sensitive towards the financial market rout, falling between 6-8 per cent in the last four weeks of January. They have, however, recovered in the past three weeks, with both rising a cumulative 4.2 per cent. Overall though, households’ confidence in the economic outlook remains much weaker than their view of their own finances.

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

Rise in jobless to cut interest rates

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 19-Feb-16

Official data shows that Australia’s unemployment rate rose from 5.8 per cent to six per cent in January 2016. However, the participation rate was steady at 65.2 per cent. Meanwhile, part-time employees now account for a record 31.2 per cent of the workforce. The jobless rate in New South Wales was 0.3 per cent higher at 5.5 per cent, while unemployment in Victoria increased by 0.3 per cent to 6.3 per cent. Tim Toohey of Goldman Sachs says the jobs data will strengthen the case for further interest rate cuts, and he expects two rate cuts in 2016.

CORPORATES
GOLDMAN SACHS AND PARTNERS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence increases to 113.6

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Original article by Gary Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Feb-16

The rise in Consumer Confidence to 113.6 in the week ended 14 February 2016 comes after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appeared to rule out any prospect of a GST increase to 15 per cent being taken to the Australian electorate as part of the Government’s taxation reform package. The decision to look for other means to improve the Australian taxation system has given a boost to the confidence of Australian consumers who now don’t face the prospect of higher costs for goods and services that a higher GST would bring. As school leavers return from Summer holidays the next few months will determine whether they are able to find meaningful employment in a tough economic environment and this impact on Australia’s real unemployment – now at 10.3 per cent – 1.346 million in January – will also flow through as a forward indicator to the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Rating.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence increases to 113.6

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 16-Feb-16

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose by 2.0 per cent to 113.6 in the week ended 14 February 2016. This follows a modest 0.2 per cent increase in the previous week and takes confidence back above its long-run average. The broad-based increase in confidence may suggest consumers are looking through the equity market weakness and shifting focus to domestic fundamentals. The sub-index on "finances compared to a year ago" has risen by 1.2 per cent, and consumers’ views on whether now is a good time to buy a major household item has risen by 2.9 per cent.

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

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence stabilising for now at 111.4

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 9-Feb-16

The ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rating for Australia rose by 0.2 per cent to 111.4 in the week ended 7 February 2016, breaking the declining trend in confidence seen over the previous four weeks. The recent weakness has left confidence below its long-run average levels. However, the latest result may suggest that concerns around financial market volatility have abated somewhat. The sub-index on "finances in the next 12 months" has fallen by 1.3 per cent, and the sub-index on "economic conditions in the next 12 months" has fallen by 1.7 per cent.

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

High LNG exports help wipe fuel import costs

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 9-Feb-16

EnergyQuest estimates that strong growth in LNG exports reduced Australia’s petroleum deficit to about $A4m in December 2015. It was the smallest petroleum deficit since August 2010, and followed the commencement of production at the three LNG processing plants at Gladstone in Queensland. Australia’s LNG production rose by 48 per cent year-on-year in December, although the downturn in the crude oil price resulted in LNG export revenue falling by 0.5 per to $A1.575bn.

CORPORATES
ENERGYQUEST PTY LTD, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, CONOCOPHILLIPS, CHEVRON CORPORATION