Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Building up the brand

Superfunds
Page: 40-42 : April 2008
Original article by Simon Lloyd

LexisNexis Summary: Advertising & Promotion Campaigns

Australian industry superannuation funds are using a range of campaigns and sponsorship to boost their profile in the aftermath of the choice of fund laws. For example, HESTA hired comedian Fiona O'Loughlin to appear in five videos aimed at demystifying superannuation, while Hostplus is a sponsor of National Rugby League team Melbourne Storm. Many believe that the original commercials promoting industry super funds, fronted by former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser, remain the most effective campaign, despite being launched back in 1998

Products & Services

Macquarie launches new LPL

Money Management
Page: 6 : 24 April 2008
Original article by Amy Corderoy

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

Macquarie's equity markets group has launched a new protected loan in Australia. The MQ Listed Protection Loan allows investors to borrow 100 per cent of capital. Pia Cooke, associate director in the equity markets group, says the loan has no margin calls. Investors can return underperforming shares and will not be asked to make further payments. Cooke believes that the new product will be popular among those who see buying opportunities in the market, which has fallen by around 20 per cent in the past six months

Cash rules on BT wraps

Money Management
Page: 8 : 24 April 2008
Original article by Liam Egan

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

Westpac-owned BT Financial Group has introduced term deposits on its BT Wrap and BT SuperWrap platforms. These products are 90, 180 and 365-day term deposits offered by the Australian institution at rates of 7.9 per cent, 8.1 per cent, and eight per cent respectively. The minimum investment in the term deposits is $A75,000. Chris Freeman, head of wrap solutions at BT, expects strong interest in the new products among investors who worry about market volatility

E-Business

Advertisers are homing in on your clicks

New Scientist
Page: 24-25 : 26 April 2008
Original article by Jim Giles

LexisNexis Summary: E-Business

Internet service providers (ISPs) have started selling information on customer browsing habits to advertisers. Customers are often unaware that the information is used to tailor the ads they receive. Firms such as Phorm in the UK and NebuAd in the US monitor customer's online activities. Both companies deny acting in a "Big Brother" manner, but privacy advocates such as Privacy International's Bob Dykes warn that there can be flaws in measures intended to protect people's privacy

Consumer Behaviour

Luxury market in the doldrums

The Australian
Page: 1 : 30 April 2008
Original article by Andrew Fraser

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Queensland-based luxury motor yacht builder Riviera Marine has announced it will be forced to downsize. It is one of the companies in the luxury segment of the Australian economy that have been affected by wealthy consumers scaling back their expenditure after stock market volatility. The order book of Riviera per quarter has fallen from as high as 55 to just 26 in early 2008. It is laying off 136 full-time staff, who will receive their full entitlements despite having been employed on the Australian Workplace Agreements that the new Federal Government is phasing out

Unusually relaxed about migration

The Sydney Morning Herald
Page: 13 : 30 April 2008
Original article by Ross Gittins

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

The result of the 2007 federal election was quite unusual considering Australians' happy outlook on economic conditions. According to a Monash University report, more than 90% of 2,000 respondents to a survey described themselves as considerably happy with their lives, which makes the change of government seem somewhat of a contradiction. When considering immigration, 35% of those surveyed believed Australia's intake was too high, less than half the level of disapproval in 1996

Don't drag digital down, says Williams

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 55 : 30 April 2008
Original article by Neil Shoebridge

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Foxtel CEO, Kim Williams, has called on the Australian Government to recognise the significant role the pay-TV sector has in driving the switch to digital TV. Williams claims that the free-to-air networks have been slow to adjust, and are protected by government "junkyard" regulation that limits the sport broadcasting capabilities of pay-TV. A recent survey found that only 42% of households have access to digital TV, which was introduced in 2001

Profits pinched by tighter belts

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 5 : 30 April 2008
Original article by Adrian Rollins

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

Australian financial conditions are the toughest they have been for 10 years, and business and consumer confidence is suffering as a result. The ongoing global credit crisis and stock market vulnerability may lead to further decreases in demand, which will drive down sales and profits. A survey by the National Australia Bank has demonstrated that difficult trading conditions are emerging due to a downturn in household spending