ABIX - Roy Morgan Daily News Summary  |  Tweet  |  Like  |  Forward  |   |  Roy Morgan Social Media:    Instagram    Facebook    YouTube    LinkedIn    Twitter DAILY NEWS SUMMARY key-indicators government-education-health business-retail-telco-agriculture media-marketing-arts resources-energy FINANCIAL INDICATORS Australian Stock Indices (ASX) Australian Dollar & other currencies US Stock Indices UK FTSE 100 Index Gold Price Bitcoin Price Energy Commodities (incl. Oil, Gas & Coal) Copper Price (London Metals Exchange) Iron Ore Daily (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) Dalian Commodity Exchange - click for a detailed live Iron Ore trend (Yuan) key-indicators GOLD, COPPER, OIL AND DOW FALL; BITCOIN RISES; KENYAN POLICE OPEN FIRE ON PROTESTERS AS CROWD TRIES TO STORM PARLIAMENT; RICHARD MARLES SAYS ASSANGE RELEASE WILL NOT SOUR AUSTRALIA-US RELATIONS; AUSTRALIA ELIMINATED FROM T20 WORLD CUP AFTER AFGHANISTAN DEFEATS BANGLADESH TO REACH SEMI-FINALS Latest updates on Key Economic Indicators - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Roy Morgan Summary Australian Dollar: $0.6650 USD (down 0.0003 USD) Iron Ore Jul Spot Price (SGX): $103.05 USD (up $0.45 USD) Oil Price (WTI): $80.78 USD (down $0.93 USD) Gold Price: $2,319.39 USD (down $14.47 USD) Copper Price (CME): $4.3710 USD (down $0.0525 USD) Bitcoin: $61,869.03 USD (up 3.57% in last 24 hours) Dow Jones: 39,112.16 at 5.19pm NY time (down 299.05 points on yesterday's close) All changes compared to 7am yesterday. Top government-education-health FREEDOM AT LAST FOR JULIAN ASSANGE The Australian Financial Review - Page 1 & 2 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Andrew Tillett Roy Morgan Summary Wikileaks founder Julian Assange arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday after he was granted bail and released from Britain's high-security Belmarsh prison, where he had been held for more than 1,900 days. Assange has agreed to a plea deal with US authorities that will end his 15-year battle to avoid extradition to the US on espionage charges. Assange is set to plead guilty to a single criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defence documents when he appears before a court in the US territory of the Mariana Islands on Wednesday. He is expected to be sentenced to time already served in the British jail, allowing him to return to Australia within days. Top UNITED WE STAND AGAINST HOSTILITY The Australian - Page 1 & 4 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Greg Sheridan Roy Morgan Summary The US Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, has warned that there is growing co-operation between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea in terms of intelligence services and espionage. Haines also says countries that are hostile to Western nations are increasingly using artificial intelligence, such as to influence the outcomes of elections. Haines has praised the intelligence partnership between Australia and the US, which is part of the broader 'Five Eyes' alliance. The federal government has awarded Haines the Australian Intelligence Medal, which is the nation's highest honour for distinguished service to the national intelligence community. Top 'WE MUST PREPARE FOR WAR NOW - THIS DECADE' The Australian - Page 4 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Joe Kelly Roy Morgan Summary Former Department of Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo has warned that there is now a 20 per cent chance of a war in the Pacific region by the end of this decade. He had previously estimated that there was a 10 per cent chance of war. Pezzullo also called for more action to be taken to prepare Australia for the possibility of war; amongst other things, he has proposed setting up a 'defence production commission'. He described potential adversary China as a "totalitarian communist regime". Top WEEKLY ROY MORGAN MARKET VIDEO Market Research Update - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Roy Morgan Roy Morgan Summary Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine talks through the latest data and insights, including Federal Voting Intention (support for the ALP is up 1% to 51% on a two-party preferred basis, with the Coalition down 0.1% to 49%), Consumer Confidence (virtually unchanged at 80.4), (also virtually unchanged at 4.8% this week) and Mortgage Stress. View all of the press releases and data mentioned in this video at Top ANZ-ROY MORGAN CONSUMER CONFIDENCE VIRTUALLY UNCHANGED AFTER THE RESERVE BANK LEAVES INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED Market Research Update - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Roy Morgan Roy Morgan Summary ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 80.4 in the week to 23 June, although it has now spent a record 73 straight weeks below the mark of 85. Consumer Confidence is now 5.5 points above the same week a year ago (74.9), but is still 1.5 points below the 2024 weekly average of 81.9. A look at Consumer Confidence by State shows that there were increases in NSW and Victoria, but modest declines in Queensland, WA and SA. Now 19% of Australians (up 1ppt) say their families are 'better off' financially than this time last year, while 52% (down 1ppt) say their families are 'worse off'. Looking forward, 30% (down 3ppts) of Australians expect their family to be 'better off' financially this time next year, while 35% (up 3ppts) expect to be 'worse off'. Now 8% (down 1ppt) of Australians expect 'good times' for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 35% (unchanged) expect 'bad times'. Meanwhile, 25% (up 4ppts) of Australians say now is a 'good time to buy' major household items, while 48% (down 2ppts) say now is a 'bad time to buy'. [Click to view full article here] Top ANZ-ROY MORGAN INFLATION EXPECTATIONS IN LATE JUNE HAVE STABILISED AT 4.8% - DOWN ONLY SLIGHTLY FROM THE MONTH OF MAY Market Research Update - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Roy Morgan Roy Morgan Summary The latest weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations are 4.8% for the week of June 17-24. This figure is below the average so far this year of 5.0%, and down 0.1% points from the month of May. A look at monthly Inflation Expectations for May 2024 shows the measure at 4.9% for the month - the equal lowest monthly figure so far this year, and down 0.3% points from April 2024 (5.2%). Looking back over the last few months, since the start of the year, weekly Inflation Expectations have moved in a narrow band of 4.8%-5.3% and averaged 5.0%. The data for the Inflation Expectations series is drawn from the Roy Morgan Single Source, which has interviewed an average of around 5,100 Australians aged 14+ per month over the last decade, and includes interviews with 6,026 Australians aged 14+ in May 2024. [Click to view full article here] Top 'REAL AND GROWING' THREAT TO GRID IF AUSTRALIA GOES FOR NUCLEAR POWER The Guardian Australia - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Peter Hannam Roy Morgan Summary The Australian Energy Market Operator has concluded that the rollout of wind and solar power needs to be accelerated as part of the energy transition. The latest edition of AEMO's Integrated System Plan warns that there is a "real and growing" risk that replacement generation will not be available when coal-fired power stations are shut down, which underlines the need for increased investment in renewables. AEMO has also cautioned that nuclear plants could not be built and powered up before coal exits the energy grid. [Click to view full article here] Top DUST OFF EXXON'S GAS PLAN The Australian - Page 24 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Robert Gottliebsen Roy Morgan Summary There is now open debate over the extent of Victoria's onshore gas reserves. While the existence of large, deep gas reserves in Gippsland that are dissolved in deep water and do not require fracking to extract has yet to be proven, Exxon had been prepared to spend $200m on developing these reserves back in 2014. However, the state's Coalition government of the time blocked the project, and Labor maintained that ban when it took office. With Bass Strait gas now running out and the state government in a mess, the Australian Energy Market Operator should step in and review the Exxon plan, as well as the initial reserves estimates provided by MHA Petroleum Consultants. Premier Jacinta Allan and her deputy Ben Carroll should also review the Exxon plan. Top FOCUS CAMPAIGN ON COST OF LIVING, PM TELLS PARTY The Australian Financial Review - Page 4 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Phillip Coorey Roy Morgan Summary Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a meeting of Labor's caucus on Tuesday that his government's MPs must prioritise the cost-of-living crisis, arguing that it is the top issue among voters. A number of cost-of-living relief measures that were announced in the 14 May budget will take effect from 1 July, in addition to the stage-three income tax cuts and an increase in the minimum wage. Albanese has also warned the Coalition to expect a union campaign against its nuclear energy policy; he said unions know that the policy will destroy jobs, undermine the manufacturing industry and result in higher electricity prices. Top COALITION OUTLINES VAPES PLAN The Australian Financial Review - Page 4 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Ronald Mizen Roy Morgan Summary Shadow health minister Anne Ruston has outlined details of the Coalition's policy on vaping products, following the federal government's decision to weaken its own vaping regulations. The Coalition proposes to subject vapes to a similar regulatory regime as cigarettes, which would allow flavoured vapes to be legally sold at outlets such as supermarkets, service stations and convenience stores. In contrast, Labor intends to restrict sales of vapes to pharmacies, while people over the age of 18 will not require a doctor's prescription to buy these products. The Coalition will also impose an excise tax on vapes and ramp up investment in a crackdown on organised crime. Top PALMER CONFIDENT ON $40B DAMAGES CLAIM The Australian Financial Review - Page 7 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Brad Thompson Roy Morgan Summary Businessman and former federal MP Clive Palmer has expanded his legal action against the federal government. Palmer is pursuing the litigation via investor-state dispute settlement rules, alleging that the Commonwealth is in breach of the free-trade agreement between Australia, New Zealand and ASEAN nations. The case against the Commonwealth has been lodged by Zeph Investments, a Singapore-registered private company that is owned by Palmer. Amongst other things, Palmer is seeking $40bn in damages over his Waratah coal project in Queensland and about $300bn in relation to stalled iron ore projects and emergency legislation that was passed by the Western Australian government. Top 'INDUSTRIAL-SCALE WAGE THEFT': CALL FOR UNI PROBE The Australian Financial Review - Page 7 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Julie Hare Roy Morgan Summary The National Tertiary Education Union says the growing problem of wage underpayments at Australia's universities should be examined by a parliamentary inquiry. The NTEU's national president Alison Barnes contends that the universities' vice chancellors and senior executives must be accountable for the wage theft scandal, which has affected more than 130,000 people across 30 universities. Amongst other things, the union estimates that junior academics have been underpaid by more than $380m over the last decade. Top VICTORIA'S PILL TESTING SERVICE TO BECOME PERMANENT AFTER 18-MONTH TRIAL The Guardian Australia - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Benita Kolovos Roy Morgan Summary The Victorian government has advised that an 18-month trial of a pill-testing service will cost $4m. The mobile service will operate at up to 10 music festivals across the state during the coming summer, which will allow drug users to test pills, powders and liquids for the presence of deadly substances. The government will also establish a fixed pill-testing site at an inner Melbourne location by mid-2025. The trial will be used to determine the best model to adopt for a permanent drug-testing service. Opposition leader John Pesutto says a Coalition government would scrap the pill-testing service, arguing that it will give a "green light" to drug users and dealers. [Click to view full article here] Top business-retail-telco-agriculture MORTGAGE STRESS DOWN IN MAY AND SET TO FALL FURTHER IN THE MONTHS AHEAD AFTER THE STAGE 3 TAX CUTS BEGIN Market Research Update - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Roy Morgan Roy Morgan Summary New research from Roy Morgan shows that 1,514,000 mortgage holders (29.7%) were 'At Risk' of 'mortgage stress' in the three months to May 2024. This represents a decrease of 46,000 (-1.1%) on a month earlier and is now the lowest level of mortgage stress reached so far this year. The RBA left interest rates on hold during their June board meeting and there is no RBA board meeting to decide upon interest rates during the month of July. The level of mortgage holders who are 'At Risk' of 'mortgage stress' in May is the lowest rate since July 2023 (29.2%), and the first time this year the rate has dropped below 30% of mortgage holders. The lower level of mortgage stress in recent months has been driven by rising household incomes, which has reduced the financial pressure on some mortgage holders. However, the number of Australians 'At Risk' of mortgage stress has increased by 707,000 since May 2022 when the RBA began a cycle of interest rate increases. Meanwhile, the number of mortgage holders considered 'Extremely At Risk' of mortgage stress is now numbered at 976,000 (19.9% of mortgage holders), which is significantly above the long-term average over the last 10 years of 14.4%. These are the latest findings from Roy Morgan's Single Source Survey, based on in-depth interviews conducted with over 60,000 Australians each year, including over 10,000 owner-occupied mortgage-holders. [Click to view full article here] Top ASX JUMPS FUELLED BY CBA, COLLINS FOODS The Australian Financial Review - Page 28 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Cecile Lefort Roy Morgan Summary The Australian sharemarket rallied on Tuesday, with the S&P/ASX 200 adding 1.4 per cent to close at 7,838.8 points. Fortescue rose 1.9 per cent to $21.67, Woodside Energy was up 3.7 per cent to $27.96 and the Commonwealth Bank finished 1.4 per cent higher at $128.63. However, Synlait Milk shed 10.2 per cent to end the session at $0.266 and Paladin Energy was down 5.1 per cent to $12.56. Top WOOLWORTHS, CSL 'SHOULD SELL FOREIGN ASSETS' The Australian Financial Review - Page 27 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Alex Gluyas Roy Morgan Summary Data from MST Marquee shows that Australian-listed companies have made just 51 offshore acquisitions so far in 2024. This follows 131 such deals in 2023, compared with a peak of nearly 450 in 2007. MST's Hasan Tevfik notes that many company boards are under pressure from shareholders to divest overseas assets and redirect capital to their Australian operations. SEEK and City Chic Collective are among the companies that have divested offshore businesses in recent weeks. MST has suggested that Woolworths, Perpetual and CSL are amongst the companies that should follow their example. Top TOP 20 STOCKS BY DIVIDEND RETURN THIS YEAR The Australian Financial Review - Page 25 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Lucy Dean Roy Morgan Summary Data from investment reporting tool Sharesight shows that Helia Group has posted the best dividend return among Australian-listed stocks so far in the 2023-24 financial year. The lenders' mortgage insurance firm is followed by New Hope Corporation and Magellan Financial Group on Sharesight's list of the highest dividend returns. Red 5, Pro Medicus and Life360 have in turn delivered the best total return so far in 2023-24. However, Brian Han from Morningstar cautions investors against focusing solely on dividends, noting that a stock might post a strong dividend payout and a negative total return. Top MYER-APPAREL BRANDS MERGER PLAN EARNS SUPPORT FROM ANALYSTS The Australian - Page 17 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Cameron England Roy Morgan Summary MST Marquee estimates that the proposed deal for Myer to acquire Premier Investments' Apparel Brands division could generate cost synergies of up to $55m. Unified Capital Partners in turn says the deal could result in synergies of about $40m for Premier Investments, which would receive shares in Myer and distribute them to its own stockholders. Premier Investments would then exit Myer's share register, and the private investment vehicle of Premier's chairman Solomon Lew would become the department store group's largest shareholder. Top BUNNINGS ESCAPED THE RETAIL CRACKDOWN, BUT PLANT GROWERS STILL HOPE FOR CHANGE The New Daily - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Sezen Bakan Roy Morgan Summary Greenlife Industry Australia CEO Joanna Cave says plant growers are disappointed that the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct will not be expanded to include Bunnings, which is Australia's major player in the retail horticulture market. However, Cave adds that Bunnings has now been put on notice that its conduct toward plant growers is under scrutiny. Cave says there has been an improvement in Bunnings' treatment of growers since the review of the Code highlighted its market dominance, although she is concerned that Bunnings may return to 'business as normal' now that it will not be subject to the Code. [Click to view full article here] Top AUSTRALIAN AIRLINES QANTAS, VIRGIN SLIDE IN GLOBAL RANKINGS The New Daily - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Matthew Elmas Roy Morgan Summary Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Emirates have been named the world's top airlines in the latest rankings by UK-based Skytrax. Qantas has fallen from 17th place in 2023 to 24th, although it remains Australia's highest-ranking airline; subsidiary Jetstar has in turn fallen from 69th to 75th. Meanwhile, Virgin Australia is ranked 54th in 2024, down from 46th. Aviation consultant Neil Hansford says the Skytrax rankings should be treated with caution, given that the firm is heavily lobbied by airlines. He adds that international airlines that are government-owned have signficant advantages over Australian carriers. [Click to view full article here] Top media-marketing-arts SEVEN WEST AXES THREE OF ITS MOST SENIOR EXECUTIVES IN MAJOR SHAKEUP The Australian Financial Review - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Zoe Samios Roy Morgan Summary Seven West Media veteran Kurt Burnette is said to be among the company's senior executives to have been retrenched as part of a cost-cutting program. Burnette joined Seven in 1990, and was most recently the media group's chief revenue officer. Seven Melbourne's MD Lewis Martin, who is also the head of sport, has also been made redundant, along with chief marketing officer Melissa Hopkins. Recent media reports had revealed that Seven plans to shed up to 150 jobs in response to a difficult advertising market and the looming end of a revenue-sharing deal with Facebook's parent Meta. Top THIS YEAR'S LOGIE NOMINATIONS HIGHLIGHT ALARMING TREND FOR THE FUTURE OF DRAMA ON FREE-TO-AIR TV The New Daily - Page Online : 26 June 2024 Original article by Louise Talbot Roy Morgan Summary Professor Amanda Lotz from the Queensland University of Technology says commercial TV networks' lack of investment in Australian drama has been reflected in the annual Logie award nominations. Streaming services have dominated the nominations for Logies in the drama category, as well as comedy and documentaries. Asher Keddie has also become the first actor to receive a Gold Logie nomination for a drama series that was made for a streaming platform. [Click to view full article here] Top resources-energy SEV.EN ABANDONS ITS BID FOR OWNERSHIP OF CORONADO The Australian - Page 15 & 18 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Glen Norris Roy Morgan Summary Coronado Global Resources has advised that private equity firm Energy & Minerals Group has terminated a deal to sell a 51 per cent stake in the coal miner to Prague-based Sev.en. The $1.5bn deal had been slated to be completed on 22 June, but Coronado notes that amongst other things it had not received approval from the Foreign Investments Review Board by the deadline. The price of metallurgical coal has also fallen sharply since Sev.en launched its bid for control of Coronado in September, prompting doubts that the deal would proceed. Top RINEHART-BACKED SENEX GAS PROJECT GETS GO-AHEAD The Australian Financial Review - Page 17 : 26 June 2024 Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith Roy Morgan Summary Senex Energy has belatedly received federal environmental approval for its Atlas gas project in Queensland. Senex had commenced the environmental approvals process nearly two years ago, and CEO Ian Davies stated earlier in 2024 that the 'legislative bureaucracy'-induce delays had increased the cost of the project by more than $150m. Approval for the project has coincided with warnings from the Australian Energy Market Operator that the east coast may run out of gas. Senex is owned by Posco and Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting. Top NICHOLAS CHEVALIER: THE ROY MORGAN COLLECTION AT THE GALLERY OF FITZROY - BY APPOINTMENT Nicholas Chevalier, recognised as the first Australian Impressionist, created a wide array of artwork consisting of Paintings, Sketches, Etchings, Wood-cut engravings and Lithographs during his career. Chevalier began his artistic life in Europe in 1848 and continued during his time in Australia from 1854-1869. Chevalier departed Australia in 1869 with the Duke of Edinburgh travelling to New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Hawaii, Japan, China and Asia before settling in Hyde Park, London in 1871 where he became the Royal Artist for Queen Victoria. Amongst the most well-known works of Chevalier works was The Marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh in St Petersburg in January 1874 - the only artistic recording of the wedding of the son of Queen Victoria - which she did not attend herself. Nicholas Chevalier, The Roy Morgan Collection, is now on display at The Gallery of Fitzroy, 87-89 Moor Street, and showcases 12 oil and watercolour paintings of Chevalier plus many original sketches and etchings published in his 1848 Bavarian Sketchbook, Melbourne Punch (1855-1861), The News Letter of Australasia (1856-1861) and The Illustrated Journal of Australasia (1858). To learn more or view the works of Nicholas Chevalier, see the review of the Chevalier Exhibition where it was displayed for a short period in the East Melbourne Library by renowned historian Geoffrey Blainey available here. Viewing by group appointment is available by calling Ryan Lowery on 0425 773 177. View Nicholas Chevalier: The Roy Morgan Collection catalogue covering Melbourne, Country Victoria, New Zealand/Pacific Islands, Egypt and Tunisia from 1855-1869 available here. Nicholas Chevalier You are receiving this email on [email protected] as a part of your Daily News Summary subscription. Roy Morgan offers daily news summary across a wide range of industry categories, you can manage your daily emails or, if you choose, you can at any time. Roy Morgan Daily News Summary is published by Roy Morgan Research Tonic House, 386 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000. Phone: (Australia) 1800 633 813, (Overseas) +61-3-9629-6888.