Strategists see little to fire the ASX 200 past 5500 by end of year

Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 11 : 9-Aug-16

Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index closed at 5,537.8 points on 8 August 2016, but opinion is divided on the level at which it will be trading by the end of the year. Morgan Stanley still expects the ASX 200 to fall to 4,800 by years’ end, although Citigroup, UBS and Credit Suisse forecast that it will be trading at around 5,500. Meanwhile, Tony Brennan of Citigroup expects it to be trading at 5,750 in mid-2017.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW

Reporting season may test resilience of ASX

Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 8-Aug-16

Futures traders expect the Australian sharemarket to gain 31 points when trading resumes on 8 August 2016, following a positive lead from Wall Street. The reporting season will continue to be a focus for investors in the coming week, with the Commonwealth Bank, REA Group, Telstra and Cochlear among the companies that are slated to release their latest financial result. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s monthly board meeting and Chinese economic data will also attract investors’ attention.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, REA GROUP LIMITED – ASX REA, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH, RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, AGL PETROLEUM, TRANSURBAN GROUP LIMITED – ASX TCL, BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LIMITED – ASX BEN, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE. INSTITUTE OF APPLIED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RESEARCH, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, PERPETUAL INVESTMENTS, TD SECURITIES

Lower rates help stocks but won’t spur growth

Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 31 : 4-Aug-16

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 6.3 per cent in July 2016, but it has shed 2.2 per cent since the Reserve Bank reduced the cash rate to a record low on 2 August. However, equities are likely to benefit from a likely trend for self-managed superannuation funds to reduce their exposure to cash as returns from such investments fall. The outlook for interest rates in Australia and abroad is also likely to ensure that price-earnings ratios remain elevated for some time.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Post-Brexit rally tipped to continue

Original article by David Rogers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 32 : 2-Aug-16

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 6.3 per cent in July 2016, and it has risen by 11 per cent since falling sharply after the UK voted to leave the European Union. The benchmark index is likely to continue to perform well in August, regardless of whether the Reserve Bank decides to reduce the cash rate. The bourse is benefiting from expectations that interest rates in Australia and overseas will remain low for some time. The latest GDP data in the US has dampened expectations that the Federal Reserve will ease monetary policy in 2016.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, BANK OF JAPAN

Citi’s Brennan tips resilience in earnings growth

Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 34 : 29-Jul-16

The Australian sharemarket currently boasts a forward price-earnings ratio of 16.6 times, but some market watchers expect that the August 2016 reporting season will justify the high earnings multiple. Tony Brennan of Citigroup is upbeat about the reporting season, saying the positive earnings surprises are likely to outweigh the negative surprises. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed at 5556.6 on 27 July, although Brennan expects it to end the year at about 5,500. However, he forecasts that it will rise to 5,750 by mid-2017.

CORPORATES
CITIGROUP PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, APPLE INCORPORATED, FACEBOOK INCORPORATED

Big miners, banks lift bourse

Original article by Daniel Palmer
The Australian – Page: 28 : 27-Jul-16

The Australian sharemarket posted a small gain on 26 July 2016, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 3.9 points to close at 5,537.5. Fortescue Metals Group was 1.7 per cent higher at $A4.12 and Qantas advanced 0.66 per cent to end the session at $A3.03. However, Woolworths shed 3.3 per cent to finish at $A23.50 and Santos was 2.4 per cent lower at $A4.56.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, QANTAS AIRWAYS LIMITED – ASX QAN, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM, ALS LIMITED – ASX ALQ, SAI GLOBAL LIMITED – ASX SAI, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, YAHOO! INCORPORATED, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX

Buoyant Woolies drives gains

Original article by Daniel Palmer
The Australian – Page: 32 : 26-Jul-16

The Australian sharemarket posted solid gains on 25 July 2016, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.64 per cent to close at 5,533.6. Woolworths advanced 7.8 per cent to end the session at $A24.19 and Telstra was 0.35 per cent higher at $A5.82. However, BHP Billiton shed 0.31 per cent to finish at $A19.24 and Santos was 3.3 per cent lower at $A4.67.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, REGIS RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX RRL, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, TEN NETWORK HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX TEN, WAM CAPITAL LIMITED – ASX WAM, IG MARKETS LIMITED, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX

Investors focus on inflation, central banks

Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 25-Jul-16

Futures traders expect the Australian sharemarket to gain about four points when trading resumes on 25 July 2016. The local bourse is likely to benefit from a positive lead from Wall Street, having lost ground in the previous trading session. Investors will be awaiting the upcoming release of inflation data for the June quarter, which could provide guidance on the Reserve Bank’s next move on the interest rate front. The US Federal Open Market Committee’s monetary policy statement will also be closely scrutinised by investors.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL OPEN MARKET COMMITTEE, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, BANK OF JAPAN

Bourse climbs past 5500 level

Original article by Daniel Palmer
The Australian – Page: 30 : 22-Jul-16

The Australian sharemarket posted solid gains on 21 July 2016, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.43 per cent to close at 5,512.4. Rio Tinto was 1.1 per cent higher at $A48.52 and Oil Search also rose by 1.1 per cent to end the session at $A7.41. However, Regis Resources shed 5.3 per cent and South32 was down 1.1 per cent.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, OIL SEARCH LIMITED – ASX OSH, REGIS RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX RRL, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, QUBE HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX QUB, ASCIANO LIMITED – ASX AIO, AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX AZJ, IG MARKETS LIMITED, HOME TIMBER AND HARDWARE, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, AQUILA RESOURCES LIMITED, INTEROIL CORPORATION, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX

Australian bourse charts course higher but big tests ahead

Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 19-Jul-16

Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 has rallied in the wake of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, rising above 5,400 points. Listed gold producers in particular have risen strongly amid the global trend toward "safe haven" assets, although the broader materials sector has also performed well. Meanwhile, the local market may benefit from the US equities rally, while the upturn in commodity prices in 2016 and Australia’s upcoming August corporate reporting season bode well for domestic shares.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, IG MARKETS LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX, JP MORGAN AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, CSL LIMITED – ASX CSL, COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH, RESMED INCORPORATED – ASX RMD, AMCOR LIMITED – ASX AMC, BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, RIVKIN SECURITIES PTY LTD