BHP Billiton Ltd (BHP):
Exxon Mobil and BHP are set to be granted a delay on developing the South East Remora gas field in Bass Strait after federal and state resources ministers elected not to employ “use-it-or-lose-it” powers on the resources giants, despite launching a review of existing east coast retention leases. South East Remora’s five-year retention licence expired in February last year. This was just as concerns about east coast gas prices and looming shortages skyrocketed and led to an ACCC probe and federal powers to curb LNG exports from Gladstone if a shortage emerged. Then, Remora was seen as one of Exxon’s biggest potential new developments in a dwindling gas province. Wood Mackenzie estimated it contained 260 billion cubic feet of gas, or about one-quarter the size of the high-carbon Turrum field. But the oil giant has since bought the Dory prospect in Bass Strait, where it has just started a $120 million drilling campaign it hopes will find a lot of gas with a low carbon content that can replace its declining legacy fields.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA):
Commonwealth Bank has issued a major space requirement in Sydney’s central business district in a move viewed as a precursor to the spin-off of its wealth management and mortgage broking businesses. The bank’s requirement is notable for its size as it frequently has smaller tenancy needs of up to 5000sq m that gets quickly filled. The bank flagged the move in June and, in a further shake-up, indicated that it may also sell off its general insurance business, as it refocuses on its core banking operations. The split it is contemplating would see the new wealth business listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, with its own branding and corporate identity, including a separate headquarters. The larger requirement was likely related to the needs to find a premise for the proposed demerged company, that would span funds management, financial planning, platforms and mortgage broking, agents said. R
Costa Group Holdings Ltd (CGC):
Shares in Costa Group have jumped as much as 7 per cent, to be the biggest gainer in morning trade after UBS described it as “ripe for the picking”. The stock fell out of favour after its August results, down around 25 per cent since but UBS said more positive wholesale pricing and growth projects made its EPS more compelling. Analyst Ben Gilbert said he expected guidance for low-double digit FY19 NPAT growth around the bank’s estimate of 14pc. “In our view, the key driver of outperformance will likely be medium-term earnings upgrades arising from successful execution of growth projects; and/or, upside from China and further M&A (Avocadoes),” Mr Gilbert said. CGC was upgraded to Buy from Neutral and price target unchanged at $8.20 - last traded up 7.11pc to $7.005. Reports the Australian GetSwift Ltd (GSW): Embattled logistics software provider GetSwift is showing signs of life, appointing a new chief technology officer, Dennis Noto, -effective immediately. The hire is the latest for GetSwift, which is fending off potential class actions and an ASIC investigation. In recent months it replaced co-founder Joel MacDonald as CEO and appointed Michael Fricklas as chairman. Mr Noto will report directly to CEO Bane Hunter, and until recently was chief technology officer at IBM’s Watson cognitive enterprise solutions unit. The appointment comes at a crucial time for the ASX-listed GetSwift, which started as an alcohol delivery business before shifting to a last mile logistics provider. It faces potential class actions and an ASIC investigation after allegations it breached continuous disclosure obligations. The company told ASIC in February it would comply with its investigation, but has said it “categorically denies” claims outlined in multiple class actions.
Insurance Australia Group Ltd (IAG):
Insurance Australia Group refused to cut lucrative bonuses tied to the sale of junk insurance it pushed through car yards on unsuspecting customers due to of a fear that it would lose market share. On the stand at the royal commission for a second day on Wednesday, IAG head of business distribution Ben Bessell also faced questions about how the company shrugged off concerns from its head of corporate affairs that the so-called “add-on” insurance could damage IAG with a “reputation impact” by continuing to sell products that “might not always help our customers”. Mr Bessell conceded that IAG’s insurance business Swann Insurance had no real oversight of how its authorised representatives in car dealerships were hocking the add-on insurance, which was sold in conjunction with vehicle and motorcycle sales under high-pressure sales tactics. The add-on insurance products included policies such as tyre and rim insurance, which the Australian Securities & Investments Commission had been raising concerns about with the industry since 2013.
Woodside Petroleum Ltd (WPL):
Energy stocks are trading higher this morning after news of China firing a 10 per cent tariff on US LNG imports. LNG was one of 3571 goods from the US, which will face the new tariffs as part of the escalating trade war between the US and China. While the new Chinese tariffs on imports of LNG from the US were lower than the 25 per cent levy suggested a few weeks ago, they could still advantage Australian suppliers such as Woodside. Any reduction in new US projects should help Woodside’s efforts to get its Browse and Scarborough projects in Western Australia up and going and strengthen the economics of a Papua New Guinea LNG expansion. Woodside shares rose 0.6 per cent to $36.86 in late morning trading.
Qantas Airways Ltd (QAN):
Qantas has pulled the plug on its radio and music channels on domestic flights, citing a lack of demand. The change follows an in-flight entertainment review and affects Boeing 737s with seat-back screens. A Qantas spokeswoman said the review found fewer than 10 per cent of passengers tuned into radio and music channels. However, the move to axe radio and music channels was a “missed opportunity to support Australian music”, said music rights organisation APRA AMCOS. Chief executive Dean Ormston said while programming was a matter for Qantas, the group was “deeply disappointed that music, and Australian music in particular”, would not feature. “In their role as the national carrier, Qantas has the opportunity to literally carry Australian stories in Australian voices to the world via their customers, and tell those stories to music-loving Aussies.” Qantas said it featured a higher proportion of Australian music than commercial radio.
Westpac Banking Corp (WBC):
Westpac customers will soon be able to tell Siri to do their banking for them as the lender rolls out voice control for its iPhone app. The launch of Siri for Westpac in the next few days - an extension of the bank’s iPhone app - will allow customers to verbally instruct their account to make payments or to give them their balance. Transactions can be sent to any payee set stored in the app or online account, and are confirmed by user fingerprint or face ID. “We know a growing number of Australians are using Siri to help make their lives easier and faster, from checking the weather through to setting an alarm, all with a simple voice request,” Westpac retail boss George Frazis said.
(Source: AIMS)
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