New PM a win for retail, media and tech shares

Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 16-Sep-15

David Bassanese of BetaShares expects consumer and business confidence to rise in the near-term under new Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He adds that Turnbull’s success in pursuing economic reform will determine whether a rise in business confidence is sustained. He says stocks in the retail, technology and construction sectors are likely to benefit from the leadership change. ST Wong of Prime Value Management say a Turnbull government may be positive for media stocks in particular.

CORPORATES
BETASHARES CAPITAL LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, PRIME VALUE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED, PEAK ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, IG MARKETS LIMITED, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, NINE ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX NEC, NEWS CORPORATION – ASX NWS, AUSTRALIAN ETHICAL INVESTMENT LIMITED – ASX AEF, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Selfie investors snub cash, shares

Original article by Kate Cowling
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 22-Jul-15

The investment portfolios of Australian self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) have usually been focused on assets such as local shares, cash and term deposits. However, AMP Capital and BlackRock are among the groups that have noted greater interest in their absolute return funds among SMSFs. Hasan Tevfik of Credit Suisse says SMSFs often change their asset allocations in order to boost income, although he adds that this typically means increased exposure to shares.

CORPORATES
AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, BLACKROCK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, TOWERS WATSON, PERPETUAL PRIVATE CLIENTS, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE

QSuper’s skew strikes right balance

Original article by Sally Rose
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 : 20-Jul-15

Data from Chant West shows that QSuper’s balanced option achieved a return of 12.3 per cent for 2014-15, topping the performance charts. Brad Holzberger, the superannuation fund’s chief investment officer, attributes QSuper’s performance to its portfolio’s high exposure to long-term sovereign bonds and its lower allocation toward domestic shares. The MTAA My AutoSuper fund delivered a return of 11.7 per cent, while all of the balanced funds in the top 10 achieved a double-digit return.

CORPORATES
CHANT WEST FINANCIAL SERVICES PTY LTD, QSUPER LIMITED, MOTOR TRADES ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA SUPERANNUATION FUND PTY LTD, STATEWIDE SUPERANNUATION PTY LTD, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, VICSUPER PTY LTD, UNISUPER LIMITED, HOST-PLUS, INTRUST SUPER FUND, MLC LIMITED, AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, REST SUPER PTY LTD

Stocks to watch as the $A drops

Original article by Rose Powell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 15-Jul-15

The Australian dollar has shed almost 10 per cent since mid-May 2015, and more than 20 per cent in the last year. Macquarie forecasts that a number of stocks will benefit from the recent downturn in the value of the currency, including CSL, Ramsay Health Care, Telstra and Brambles. On the other hand, stocks that are tipped to fall as a result of currency weakness include SEEK, Fortescue Metals Group, WorleyParsons and Rio Tinto.

CORPORATES
MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, CSL LIMITED – ASX CSL, RAMSAY HEALTH CARE LIMITED – ASX RHC, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, SEEK LIMITED – ASX SEK, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, WORLEYPARSONS LIMITED – ASX WOR, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, ALS LIMITED – ASX ALQ, TRANSPACIFIC INDUSTRIES GROUP LIMITED – ASX TPI, SIMS METAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX SGM, AMCOR LIMITED – ASX AMC, SONIC HEALTHCARE LIMITED – ASX SHL, COMPUTERSHARE LIMITED – ASX CPU, COCA-COLA AMATIL LIMITED – ASX CCL, FLIGHT CENTRE TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX FLT, BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED – ASX BSL, CHALLENGER LIMITED – ASX CGF, MACQUARIE WEALTH MANAGEMENT, MORGANS FINANCIAL LIMITED, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Mirrabooka forks out 7c a share special dividend

Original article by Ruth Liew
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 14-Jul-15

Mirrabooka Investments has reported a 2014-15 profit of $A7.1m, compared with $A7.8m previously. The listed investment company has posted a return of 6.8 per cent for the financial year, and a five-year return of 15.5 per cent. Stocks in its portfolio that performed well in 2014-15 include Toll Holdings, Ansell, Nufarm and Blackmores. Shareholders will receive a final dividend of $A0.065 per share, plus a special dividend of $A0.07 per share.

CORPORATES
MIRRABOOKA INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX MIR, TOLL HOLDINGS LIMITED, ANSELL LIMITED – ASX ANN, NUFARM LIMITED – ASX NUF, BLACKMORES LIMITED – ASX BKL, LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES LIMITED – ASX LIC, COVER-MORE GROUP LIMITED – ASX CVO, ISELECT LIMITED – ASX ISU, VEDA GROUP LIMITED – ASX VED, AMA GROUP LIMITED – ASX AMA, SIMS METAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX SGM, JAPAN POST COMPANY LIMITED, CITADEL GROUP, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX MIDCAP 50 INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX SMALL ORDINARIES GROSS ACCUMULATION INDEX

Tough times present high-quality opportunities, says Clime

Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 12-Jun-15

Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index rebounded to 5,557 points on 11 June 2015, having fallen below the 5,500-point level earlier in the week. Clime Asset Management’s Clime John Abernethy notes that the local market is now at its level of mid-2014, and says some stocks now offer value. Abernethy favours National Australia Bank, Telstra, Woolworths, Wesfarmers and CSL. He cites factors such as healthy earnings, strong dividends and expectations of a double-digit rate of return for each of these stocks in the next year.

CORPORATES
CLIME ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, CSL LIMITED – ASX CSL, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, EVIDENTE, MONEY MATTERS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS PTY LTD

Citi finds value in 2015’s star stocks

Original article by Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 5-Jun-15

Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 is currently trading on a price-earnings ratio of 16.5 times earnings forecasts. Citigroup has identified six stocks that continue to offer good value for investors: Macquarie Group, Harvey Norman, Lend Lease Group, Mirvac Group, IOOF Holdings and Incitec Pivot. Citigroup also nominates Woolworths, Metcash, QBE Insurance Group, Fletcher Building and Orica as stocks that could stage rebounds.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, HARVEY NORMAN HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX HVN, LEND LEASE GROUP LIMITED – ASX LLC, MIRVAC GROUP – ASX MGR, IOOF HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX IFL, INCITEC PIVOT LIMITED – ASX IPL, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, QBE INSURANCE GROUP LIMITED – ASX QBE, FLETCHER BUILDING LIMITED – ASX FBU, ORICA LIMITED – ASX ORI, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AMCOR LIMITED – ASX AMC, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, APA GROUP – ASX APA, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, COMPUTERSHARE LIMITED – ASX CPU, BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LIMITED – ASX BEN, BANK OF QUEENSLAND LIMITED – ASX BOQ, ANSELL LIMITED – ASX ANN, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LIMITED – ASX PRY

QIC strikes $1 billion infrastructure deal

Original article by Jenny Wiggins
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 21-May-15

QIC will invest nearly $A1bn in infrastructure assets on behalf of the California Public Employees Retirement System. Australia and New Zealand will be the main focus of the investment portfolio, including transport, energy and utility assets, although QIC will also seek assets in Asian countries. The US pension fund boasts some $A300bn worth of assets, while QIC’s infrastructure portfolio is worth $A5.8bn.

CORPORATES
QIC LIMITED, CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, JP MORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED, QUEENSLAND MOTORWAYS LIMITED, TRANSURBAN GROUP LIMITED – ASX TCL, AUSTRALIA. FUTURE FUND MANAGEMENT AGENCY, EPIC ENERGY PTY LTD, PORT OF BRISBANE, BRISBANE AIRPORT, WESTLINK MOTORWAY LIMITED

Four reasons why it’s time to buy shares now

Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 25 : 15-May-15

Deutsche Bank says investors should capitalise on the Australian sharemarket’s five per cent decline since late April 2015 and buy stocks that offer value before it rebounds. Deutsche says a number of factors suggest that a pullback was overdue, and it favours non-bank financial stocks such as AMP, IOOF, Challenger and Magellan Financial Group. AMP Capital says global issues could result in further market volatility, although it also expects the Australian bourse to rebound.

CORPORATES
DEUTSCHE BANK AG, AMP CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED, AMP LIMITED – ASX AMP, IOOF HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX IFL, PERPETUAL LIMITED – ASX PPT, CHALLENGER LIMITED – ASX CGF, MAGELLAN FINANCIAL GROUP LIMITED – ASX MFG, COMPUTERSHARE LIMITED – ASX CPU, IRGUNIT COMPANY, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, HENDERSON GROUP PLC – ASX HGG, ASX LIMITED – ASX ASX, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

UBS small-caps funds feature lithium play

Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 11-May-15

Demand for lithium is rising by 10 per cent each year, and Australian-listed Orocobre’s Olaroz mine in Argentina yields 10 per cent of global supply. UBS Global Asset Management is upbeat about Orocobre, while Western Areas and Sundance Energy are the only other resources stocks in the portfolios of its small and micro-capitalisation funds at present.

CORPORATES
OROCOBRE LIMITED – ASX ORE, WESTERN AREAS LIMITED – ASX WSA, SUNDANCE ENERGY AUSTRALIA LIMITED – ASX SEA, UBS GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, TESLA MOTORS INCORPORATED, SIRIUS RESOURCES NL – ASX SIR