VIRUS DISEASES

All the way with ScoMo on China

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Original article by Ben Packham, Cameron Stewart
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 1-May-20

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is supporting Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s push for an independent review into the origins of COVID-19. Pompeo says all nations should back Australia’s call for such a review, while he attacked China for threatening economic retaliation against Australia over its review push. Billionaires Andrew Forrest and Kerry Stokes have been criticised by security experts and MPs over their comments that Morrison to back off on his call for a review, with Stokes and Forrest reminded that they should not confuse Australia’s national interest with their own commercial interests.

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UNITED STATES. DEPT OF STATE, SEVEN WEST MEDIA LIMITED – ASX SWM

Hopes of V-shaped recovery likely to be dashed

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Original article by David Rogers
The Australian – Page: 20 : 24-Apr-20

The global sharemarket has recovered about 50 per cent of the losses incurred in the sell-off during February and March. However, a further V-shaped recovery for equities is likely to be dependent on the global economy being restarted quickly. A V-shaped economic recovery is also unlikely, according to economists. Josh Williamson of Citigroup expects Australia’s economic growth to fall by 5.8 per cent in 2019-20, before rebounding by 6.1 per cent in 2020-21. However, he does not expect the economy to return to pre-virus growth levels until late 2021.

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CITIGROUP PTY LTD

No sign of breakout in inflation: King

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 20-Apr-20

The Reserve Bank of Australia has been actively buying state and federal government bonds in response to the coronavirus crisis. Former Bank of England governor Mervin King contends that the risk of a sharp rise in inflation will remain low if central banks rather than governments continue to have responsibility for deciding how much money to print. King has also described modern monetary theory as "nonsense", while he has praised regulators in Australia, the UK and New Zealand for advising banks to delay their dividend payments.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, BANK OF ENGLAND

Earnings haven’t been revised low enough

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Original article by William McInnes
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 31 : 8-Apr-20

Earnings per share forecasts for S&P/ASX 200 companies have been reduced by seven per cent since February, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Macquarie argues that this downgrade is too small, given that Australia’s GDP growth is expected to contract in 2020; the broker adds that the financial market appears to have priced in a much higher decline. Macquarie notes that forecasts are difficult at present as many listed companies have withdrawn their earnings guidance in response to the pandemic.

CORPORATES
STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG

How Australia’s coronavirus stimulus stacks up against global competition

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Original article by Matt Johnson
The New Daily – Page: Online : 3-Apr-20

The International Monetary Fund has called on countries to enact ‘wartime measures’ to rescue economies crippled by the impact of COVID-19. Measures announced by the Australian government include a $130 billion wage subsidy plan and a $20 billion loan scheme. The UK has announced it will subsidise employees’ wages up to a value of Stg2,500 ($5,086) a month, while the US has introduced a $2.2 trillion rescue package that includes a controversial $500 billion corporate bailout fund to help big business.

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INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Super funds lose billions as crisis hits

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Original article by Michael Roddan
The Australian – Page: 15 & 22 : 25-Mar-20

The financial market turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic has weighed on asset valuations in the superannuation industry. AustralianSuper has slashed the value of its portfolio of unlisted assets by 7.5 per cent, while IFM Investors has cut the valuations of its Australian unlisted assets by an average of 7.6 per cent. Both group have exposure to a range of infrastructure assets, such as airports and toll roads. Other super funds are also reviewing the value of their unlisted assets.

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AUSTRALIANSUPER PTY LTD, IFM INVESTORS PTY LTD

Miners told to keep digging as rivals halt

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 25-Mar-20

Rio Tinto and South32 are among the Australian-listed mining companies whose operations will be affected by coronavirus lockdowns in South Africa and the Canadian province of Quebec. Production at mines in Australia is continuing at present, although New Hope Corporation’s CEO Shane Stephan says it is too soon to know if the virus will force local mines to close. He adds that it would be naive to suggest that there will be no impact. BHP CEO Mike Henry says senior government officials have indicated that they are keen for the resources industry to keep operating, given its contribution to the economy.

CORPORATES
NEW HOPE CORPORATION LIMITED – ASX NHC, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Newcrest axes FIFO route into PNG’s Lihir mine

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 23 : 20-Mar-20

Newcrest Mining has responded to the coronavirus pandemic by suspending the use of Australian fly-in, fly-out workers at the Lihir gold mine in Papua New Guinea. The move will take effect within days, but Newcrest will continue to use FIFO workers at its mines in Australia. The company has noted that it primarily uses local workers at Lihir, rather than employees on FIFO arrangements. Australia’s gold, iron ore, copper, oil and gas sectors are particularly reliant on FIFO workers.

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NEWCREST MINING LIMITED – ASX NCM

Government relents on Newstart

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 20-Mar-20

The second phase of the federal government’s stimulus package will include an increase in the Newstart allowance for people who are currently unemployed. The Coalition had previously flagged a higher income payment than Newstart for workers who lose their job due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, it has long opposed an increase in unemployment benefits, arguing that getting a job is the best form of welfare. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has conceded that getting people off Newstart and into the labour market will be difficult over the next six months due to the economic impact of the pandemic.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Major hit, big job losses ahead: RBA

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Original article by Patrick Commins
The Australian – Page: 4 : 20-Mar-20

Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe says the unemployment rate can be expected to rise in coming months, as the coronavirus is likely to result in "significant" job losses. However, he says the labour market should rebound quite fast if the virus’s outbreak in Australia can be contained. Lowe also said the virus and measures to combat its spread will have a "severe" impact on the economy, although he is hopeful that this will be temporary. Lowe has indicated that housing market activity is likely to be affected by the pandemic.

CORPORATES
RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA