Products & Services

HSBC looks abroad to cash in on super market

The Sydney Morning Herald
Page: 25 : 27 June 2008
Original article by Danny John

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

The global banker, HSBC, has set up a new business in Australia. It has unveiled a wholesale wealth management division at its Sydney headquarters. HSBC has been attracted by Australia's surging superannuation fund balances, which will reach around $A3,300 billion in the coming nine years. HSBC plans to offer super funds the chance to enter overseas markets, where there are bigger growth opportunities. It will thus focus on fund management money heading overseas. This is vital in Australia, because Australia does not have enough quality growth assets to suit fund managers. HSBC has around $A400 billion worth of assets under management and it plans to invest money in emerging markets such as China, India, Brazil and Russia

Touchy-feely Telstra's makeover

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 67 : 27 June 2008
Original article by Simon Evans

LexisNexis Summary: Products & Services

Australian telco, Telstra, will rebrand about one quarter of its retail outlets in 2008-09. It has 300 retail outlets and about 75 will be rebadged as the "TLife" brand. One of the five outlets already operating was officially opened in central Melbourne on 26 June 2008. David Moffat, of Telstra, said that the low-cost modular format would improve profits. He said the telco's retail business is experiencing strong growth. Analysts expect that Telstra will sell Apple's iPhone

Marketing Strategy

Guide to portrayal of children in media

The Australian
Page: 3 : 27 June 2008
Original article by Nicola Berkovic

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

There are deep concerns in Australia about the way children are portrayed in the media. Many fear that children are being sexualised by advertisers, who use media and sexualised images of young people to sell things. An Australian Senate committee has conducted an inquiry to deal with these concerns. Its report was tabled in the Australian Parliament on 26 June 2008 and suggests setting up a dedicated children's TV channel, tougher scrutiny of music videos and stricter guidelines for advertisers about how children are portrayed. In 2006, the Australia Institute published a report, "Corporate Paedophilia", which alleged that large retailers are sexualising young children in their advertising

Happy CanWest waits for bounce

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 69 : 27 June 2008
Original article by Neil Shoebridge

LexisNexis Summary: Marketing Strategy

CanWest Global Communications rejects claims that the media sector is in a down cycle. In a 26 June 2008 interview, president and CEO Leonard Asper came to the defence of Australia's Ten Network, which has seen its share price fall 45% since January. Asper joined the Ten board in December 2007. Ten's shares fell $A0.21 to $A1.76 in mid-June 2008 after it forecast a 10% drop in earnings for the year to August. Asper says the hype of a downturn in media spending is "overdone", emphasising that the Australian TV advertising market "always rebounds hard and fast"

Consumer Behaviour

Crunch time could last two years

The Sydney Morning Herald
Page: 23 : 27 June 2008
Original article by Danny John

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

A top banker in Australia has given a gloomy prediction about Australia's economy. Ralph Norris, the CEO of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, told a conference that the effects of the global credit crisis will be felt for perhaps another two years. He explained that the drying up of global credit is hurting economies across the globe. Bankers from several banks in Australia have suggested that overall lending is slowing as the price of credit becomes too high. They have noted a reduced growth of credit card balances, as consumers stop buying discretionary items. Australian consumers have been simultaneously hit with high interest rates, petrol prices and food costs. Their reaction has swiftly started to slow the Australian economy. Bankers noted that people are putting their money in the bank for safety

Drive is on to beat car tax

The Australian Financial Review
Page: 3 : 27 June 2008
Original article by Ashley Midalia

LexisNexis Summary: Consumer Behaviour

The global head offices of major car companies have reportedly received telephone calls from customers. They are seeking to rush their orders through ahead of tax changes on 1 July 2008. The Australian Government announced plans to increase the tax on luxury vehicles from 25 per cent to 33 per cent as part of its 2008-09 Budget. Italia Motori's Ferrari sales manager, Alan Hind, said a number of customers had expressed their willingness to walk away from planned purchases if they are not completed by the deadline. Hind said the average delivery time on a Ferrari is currently around six months, meaning that many customers had ordered their cars ahead of the announcement