AMCIL Limited (AMH):
AMCIL, a stablemate of retiree favourite AFIC, yesterday reported a 16.1 per cent lift in profit to $6.2 million for the 2018 financial year. Revenue rose 27.4 per cent to $8.45m, while the management expense ratio was 0.69 per cent. The fund delivered a 12-month return of 12.3 per cent, below the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index, which returned 13 per cent. The underperformance was due to AMCIL’s limited exposure to small and mid-cap resource companies, which rocketed 49 per cent and 42 per cent in the year. The relative weakness of the Australian dollar had also attracted overseas investors to the local market in recent months, Mr Freeman said, which pushed prices higher. “Six months ago you would’ve said Australia would be an underperformer but with the currency where it is and perhaps some uncertainty around emerging markets we’ve attracted some offshore buying.
BHP Billiton Limited (BHP):
The world’s largest copper mine, BHP’s Escondida in Chile, says it has made a final salary offer in talks with the union representing its rank-and-file workers that includes a beefed up contract signing bonus and a 1.5 per cent increase in wages. The Anglo-Australian miner (BHP) has offered a final signing bonus of $US27,700, compared to its previous offer of $US23,000. The 1.5 per cent salary increase compared to a previous offer of a flat salary with increases only for inflation. The union had requested a five per cent salary increase and a bonus of up to $US40,000 per worker. The closely-watched talks come little more than one year after failure to reach a labour deal at the mine led to a 44-day strike that jolted the global copper market.
Crown Resorts Ltd (CWN):
The Australian Taxation Office has found James Packer’s Crown Resorts ran up more than $730 million in deductions as a result of a scheme that had the purpose of dodging tax, court papers show. Appeal papers filed by the casino group shed fresh light on its long-running battle with the ATO over an exotic — and highly controversial — structure it used to finance the purchase of a stake in US gambling business Cannery Casino Resorts a decade ago. The documents also reveal that in May Crown lost the first round in a stoush with the ATO over six years of tax deductions that imply a tax bill of about $220m. Crown is also challenging the ATO’s decision to charge it almost $22m in interest on the alleged shortfall in tax paid by the company. The company has previously said the total amount demanded by the ATO, including penalties and interest, comes to $362m. Crown’s looming public stoush with the ATO adds to five years of turmoil that has rocked Mr Packer’s personal and business life and follows his decision to quit the boards of both Crown and a swath of family companies.
CSR Limited (CSR):
Building materials manufacturer CSR is considering the sale of its Viridian glass business following weeks of speculation it was looking to offload it. The Australian’s Data Room column revealed earlier this month that CSR had brought in Greenhill to start the sales process and finally offload the glass business it purchased in 2007. In an announcement to the market this morning, CSR said it has received interest from external parties which would be interested in acquiring the business as a platform for growth. “Whilst there has been no decision to sell the business at this stage, CSR intends to assess this potential interest over the next few months,” CSR said.
Insurance Australia Group Ltd (IAG):
The prospect of IAG announcing a major share buyback alongside its full-year results is starting to rise as a reward of sorts for its investors. The insurer has been under the glare of the royal commission for most of the year as the spotlight on the financial services sector reaches an unprecedented level. So far, IAG and its rival QBE have escaped most of the fallout that has centred on the four retail banks and AMP. The superannuation sector is up next when the royal commission moves to Melbourne for its August session before Kenneth Hayne’s sights will be set on the general insurers. The company’s share price started the year at $7.24 and it’s currently trading a touch shy of $8. Citi analysts have now forecast that IAG could announce a capital return of up to $750 million, possibly through a share buyback.
Magellan Financial Group Ltd (MFG):
Despite a rising backlash and the threat of regulation, Hamish Douglass still likes the global tech giants. Speaking to The Australian, the Magellan Financial Group chief executive says the threat of regulation could actually serve to strengthen US heavyweights Google and Facebook — Magellan’s top two holdings. In addition to the two top holdings, Magellan also holds positions in other US tech majors including Microsoft, Oracle and Ebay. Earlier this week Mr Trump blasted Amazon and called for greater taxes on the Jeff Bezos-run firm, but Douglass puts that down to a personal beef between Trump and the Amazon founder.
National Australia Bank (NAB):
National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn says funding costs for banks have been rising and interest rates at his bank are “under constant review”. While Mr Thorburn declined to comment on whether he would follow smaller banks and regional lenders in raising mortgage rates, he noted interest rates across the economy were “rising” in general. His comments follow dozens or regional banks and other non-bank lenders in recent weeks blaming rising funding costs for hiking variable mortgage rates on average by around 10 basis points. None of the Big Four lenders, which control the bulk of the nation’s mortgage market, have so far moved.
(Source: AIMS)
AMCIL, a stablemate of retiree favourite AFIC, yesterday reported a 16.1 per cent lift in profit to $6.2 million for the 2018 financial year. Revenue rose 27.4 per cent to $8.45m, while the management expense ratio was 0.69 per cent. The fund delivered a 12-month return of 12.3 per cent, below the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Accumulation Index, which returned 13 per cent. The underperformance was due to AMCIL’s limited exposure to small and mid-cap resource companies, which rocketed 49 per cent and 42 per cent in the year. The relative weakness of the Australian dollar had also attracted overseas investors to the local market in recent months, Mr Freeman said, which pushed prices higher. “Six months ago you would’ve said Australia would be an underperformer but with the currency where it is and perhaps some uncertainty around emerging markets we’ve attracted some offshore buying.
BHP Billiton Limited (BHP):
The world’s largest copper mine, BHP’s Escondida in Chile, says it has made a final salary offer in talks with the union representing its rank-and-file workers that includes a beefed up contract signing bonus and a 1.5 per cent increase in wages. The Anglo-Australian miner (BHP) has offered a final signing bonus of $US27,700, compared to its previous offer of $US23,000. The 1.5 per cent salary increase compared to a previous offer of a flat salary with increases only for inflation. The union had requested a five per cent salary increase and a bonus of up to $US40,000 per worker. The closely-watched talks come little more than one year after failure to reach a labour deal at the mine led to a 44-day strike that jolted the global copper market.
Crown Resorts Ltd (CWN):
The Australian Taxation Office has found James Packer’s Crown Resorts ran up more than $730 million in deductions as a result of a scheme that had the purpose of dodging tax, court papers show. Appeal papers filed by the casino group shed fresh light on its long-running battle with the ATO over an exotic — and highly controversial — structure it used to finance the purchase of a stake in US gambling business Cannery Casino Resorts a decade ago. The documents also reveal that in May Crown lost the first round in a stoush with the ATO over six years of tax deductions that imply a tax bill of about $220m. Crown is also challenging the ATO’s decision to charge it almost $22m in interest on the alleged shortfall in tax paid by the company. The company has previously said the total amount demanded by the ATO, including penalties and interest, comes to $362m. Crown’s looming public stoush with the ATO adds to five years of turmoil that has rocked Mr Packer’s personal and business life and follows his decision to quit the boards of both Crown and a swath of family companies.
CSR Limited (CSR):
Building materials manufacturer CSR is considering the sale of its Viridian glass business following weeks of speculation it was looking to offload it. The Australian’s Data Room column revealed earlier this month that CSR had brought in Greenhill to start the sales process and finally offload the glass business it purchased in 2007. In an announcement to the market this morning, CSR said it has received interest from external parties which would be interested in acquiring the business as a platform for growth. “Whilst there has been no decision to sell the business at this stage, CSR intends to assess this potential interest over the next few months,” CSR said.
Insurance Australia Group Ltd (IAG):
The prospect of IAG announcing a major share buyback alongside its full-year results is starting to rise as a reward of sorts for its investors. The insurer has been under the glare of the royal commission for most of the year as the spotlight on the financial services sector reaches an unprecedented level. So far, IAG and its rival QBE have escaped most of the fallout that has centred on the four retail banks and AMP. The superannuation sector is up next when the royal commission moves to Melbourne for its August session before Kenneth Hayne’s sights will be set on the general insurers. The company’s share price started the year at $7.24 and it’s currently trading a touch shy of $8. Citi analysts have now forecast that IAG could announce a capital return of up to $750 million, possibly through a share buyback.
Magellan Financial Group Ltd (MFG):
Despite a rising backlash and the threat of regulation, Hamish Douglass still likes the global tech giants. Speaking to The Australian, the Magellan Financial Group chief executive says the threat of regulation could actually serve to strengthen US heavyweights Google and Facebook — Magellan’s top two holdings. In addition to the two top holdings, Magellan also holds positions in other US tech majors including Microsoft, Oracle and Ebay. Earlier this week Mr Trump blasted Amazon and called for greater taxes on the Jeff Bezos-run firm, but Douglass puts that down to a personal beef between Trump and the Amazon founder.
National Australia Bank (NAB):
National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn says funding costs for banks have been rising and interest rates at his bank are “under constant review”. While Mr Thorburn declined to comment on whether he would follow smaller banks and regional lenders in raising mortgage rates, he noted interest rates across the economy were “rising” in general. His comments follow dozens or regional banks and other non-bank lenders in recent weeks blaming rising funding costs for hiking variable mortgage rates on average by around 10 basis points. None of the Big Four lenders, which control the bulk of the nation’s mortgage market, have so far moved.
(Source: AIMS)
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