Investors to shrug off events in Turkey

Original article by Mark Mulligan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 18-Jul-16

Futures traders expect the Australian sharemarket to shed about 11 points when trading resumes on 18 July 2016, in response to growing geopolitical tensions worldwide. With a dearth of upcoming local economic data, investors will be awaiting the release of the minutes from the Reserve Bank’s monthly board meeting. Meanwhile,, the latest US economic data may provide some guidance on the timing of any change in US monetary policy.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, RESERVE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX, MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL EMERGING MARKETS INDEX, BT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX BTT, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA

ASX tipped to hit 5500 by end of 2016

Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 21 : 11-Jul-16

Hasan Tevfik of Credit Suisse says Australian shares are relatively cheap at present, in comparison to alternative investments such as cash and bonds. Tevfik adds that the prospect of further official interest rate cuts should also prompt investors to switch to equities. Meanwhile, UBS notes that the market’s price-to-book value is now 13 per cent below the long-term average, and about 50 per cent lower in the case of resources stocks. UBS’s David Cassidy expects the market to be trading at around 5,500 points by the end of 2016.

CORPORATES
CREDIT SUISSE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, UBS HOLDINGS PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, CSL LIMITED – ASX CSL, BRAMBLES LIMITED – ASX BXB, AMCOR LIMITED – ASX AMC

Hung parliament syndrome: Lessons from Gillard in 2010

Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 27 : 5-Jul-16

The potential for a hung parliament following the 2016 federal election is likely to weigh on investor sentiment in the near-term, although equities quickly recovered after a sell-off in the wake of the 2010 election. The prospect of another obstructive Senate in particular is a concern for investors, as it is likely to affect the timing of a return to a Budget surplus. However, financial markets are proving to be resilient to risk factors, as the rebound following the UK’s "Brexit" referendum demonstrates.

CORPORATES
WATERMARK FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S CORPORATION

ASX gains despite election uncertainty

Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 26 : 5-Jul-16

The Australian sharemarket posted solid gains on 4 July 2016, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 0.7 per cent to close at 5,281.8. The knife-edge federal election result weighed on financial stocks, with Tristan K’Nell of Altair Asset Management noting that the Australian Labor Party will hold a royal commission into the banks if it wins office. However, resources groups benefited from a rise in commodity prices, while the yield on 10-year government bonds increased to 1.99 per cent after previously reaching a record low.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX, ALTAIR ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, OANDA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SELECT HARVESTS LIMITED – ASX SHV, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL ASIA-PACIFIC INDEX

Election shock means tougher job for RBA

Original article by Vesna Poljak
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 4-Jul-16

The Australian sharemarket is expected to lose ground when trading resumes on 4 July 2016. Uncertainly regarding the outcome of the federal election is likely to weigh on investor sentiment, while the Australian dollar is tipped to fall after peaking at $US0.7503 in local trading on 1 July. Stephen Walters of the Australian Institute of Company Directors says Australia’s "AAA" credit rating may be reviewed as a result of the election. Meanwhile, economists say the Reserve Bank is now unlikely to reduce the cash rate in July.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF COMPANY DIRECTORS, AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF COMPANY DIRECTORS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, FIIG SECURITIES LIMITED, DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE INDEX, STANDARD AND POOR’S 500 INDEX, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

ASX enjoys sweet end to sour financial year

Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 29 : 1-Jul-16

The Australian sharemarket posted solid gains on 30 June 2016, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 1.8 per cent to end the financial year at 5,233.4. The Commonwealth Bank was 1.2 per cent higher at $A74.37 and BHP Billiton advanced 1.9 per cent to end the session at $A18.65. Woodside Petroleum rose 2.8 per cent to close at $A26.84 and Mayne Pharma was up 35.1 per cent at $A1.09. The benchmark index shed 4.1 per cent in 2015-16.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, MAYNE PHARMA GROUP LIMITED – ASX MYX, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LIMITED – ASX FMG, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, PM CAPITAL LIMITED, PERPETUAL INVESTMENTS, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX, FTSE 100 INDEX, FTSE 250 INDEX

Europe aftershocks set to rattle the globe

Original article by Mark Mulligan
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 24-Jun-16

Futures traders expect Australia’s benchmark S&P/ASX 200 to be flat or rise slightly when trading resumes on 27 June 2016. However, European sharemarkets and the British pound could be further sold down in the next week, in the wake of the UK’s vote to leave the European Union. Meanwhile, Paul Bloxham of HSBC expects the Reserve Bank of Australia to leave the cash rate on hold in July, noting that low inflation remains the central bank’s focus.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, HSBC AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS PTY LTD, BANK OF ENGLAND, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, JP MORGAN AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, LOMBARD STREET RESEARCH LIMITED, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, CHICAGO BOARD OPTIONS EXCHANGE VOLATILITY INDEX, BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION, MERRILL LYNCH AND COMPANY INCORPORATED, GREAT BRITAIN. OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER

ASX rallies on signs of a shift in UK polls

Original article by Vanessa Desloires
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 30 : 21-Jun-16

The Australian sharemarket posted strong gains on 20 June 2016, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 1.8 per cent to close at 5,256. Asian markets also rose in response to a poll which found that support is growing among British voters to remain in the European Union. Commonwealth Bank was three per cent higher at $A74.20 and BHP Billiton was up 4.4 per cent at $A18.87. However, Northern Star Resources was down 3.5 per cent at $A4.66 and Metcash shed 12.5 per cent to end the session at $A1.86.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, WOODSIDE PETROLEUM LIMITED – ASX WPL, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, SANTOS LIMITED – ASX STO, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX TLS, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, EVOLUTION MINING LIMITED – ASX EVN, REGIS RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX RRL, MESOBLAST LIMITED – ASX MSB, HENDERSON GROUP PLC – ASX HGG, CYBG PLC – ASX CYB, CSL LIMITED – ASX CSL, COCHLEAR LIMITED – ASX COH, PATERSONS SECURITIES LIMITED, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX ALL ORDINARIES INDEX, HANG SENG INDEX, NIKKEI 225 INDEX

Markets skittish as Brexit vote looms

Original article by Jessica Sier
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 22 : 20-Jun-16

The UK’s referendum on membership of the European Union is expected to be a key focus for Australian investors in the week beginning 20 June 2016. However, Alex Holmes of Capital Economics says the global economy is unlikely to be significantly affected in the long-term if the UK votes to leave the EU. Investors will also be awaiting the release of the minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest board meeting, as well as US economic data such as unemployment claims and oil inventories.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, CAPITAL ECONOMICS LIMITED, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, UNITED STATES. SENATE COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS, UNITED STATES. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL SERVICES, RESERVE BANK OF INDIA, INDIA. PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

Early rally fades but Brexit fears remain

Original article by Stephen Cauchi
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 28 : 17-Jun-16

The S&P/ASX200 index closed 0.02 per cent lower at 5,146.0 on 16 June 2016. It seems that investors are preoccupied with the possibility of Great Britain leaving the European Union. A referendum on the issue will be held on 23 June 2016. Crown Resorts’ demerger plans were welcomed by investors who pushed the stock up by 13.2 per cent to $A12.75. Gold stocks performed well, with Newcrest Mining gaining 2.9 per cent to $A22.54, Evolution Mining rising 4.7 per cent to $A2.43, and Northern Star Resources climbing 5.1 per cent to $A5.09.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, CROWN RESORTS LIMITED – ASX CWN, NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM, EVOLUTION MINING LIMITED – ASX EVN, NORTHERN STAR RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX NST, BANK OF JAPAN, RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, MELCO CROWN ENTERTAINMENT LIMITED