Archive for February, 2010

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  • ITL Limited Extends American Red Cross Contract

    Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

    ITL Limited (ITD) is pleased to announce that the American Red Cross has signed a three year contract extension with ITL Corporation in the USA. The contract includes a range of ITL’s award winning blood banking safety ancillary devices used during blood collection and component production processes.

    ITL Corporation has been supplying the American Red Cross since 1998. The American Red Cross is the largest single supplier of blood and blood products in the United States, collecting and processing more than 40 percent of the blood supply and distributing it to some 3,000 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide.

    ITL specialises in the design, manufacturing and marketing of blood collection, safety and ergonomic supplies, medical procedure kits and equipment that are sold globally. ITL’s products have a presence in over 38 countries, and protect the lives and health of millions of healthcare workers. ITL is committed to bringing products to market that consistently prove to be market leaders in safety, ergonomics and innovation.

    ITL (ITD) is a diversified healthcare company, specialising in innovative medical devices, procedure packs and medical equipment for global healthcare markets. ITL manufactures in Australia and Malaysia, and has sales offices in Australia, North America, and Asia. Sydney, Australia – Melbourne, Australia – Ipoh, Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Washington DC, USA .

    www.itl-limited.com

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    Good results for Fairfax

    Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

    Fairfax had some good news for shareholders yesterday, posting an increase in underlying earnings of 37%, and a return to profitability.

    Cost cutting and a rise in digital advertising revenue have played their parts in the $149 million interim profit. Analyst forecasts suggest a full-year growth in earnings is ahead, though the Fairfax chief executive was careful to point out that booking cycles remained short, and he wouldn t commit to the recent improvement in advertising being a described as a permanent trend.

    The Fairfax share price was up two cents at $1.805 at the end of trading yesterday, and the interim dividend was cut from 2c to 1.1c a share.

    Elsewhere in media companies, James Packer s Consolidated Media Holdings saw an 11.6% drop in first-half profit.
    Fairfax Share Price

    Fairfax Media
    ASX Code: FXJ

    Chart source: Rapid Trader. Sign up for Rapid Trader and receive free live ASX data until June 2010!

    For more on this news story:

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    USD Index, AUD, Dow Jones, ASX Top 20 and XJO.

    Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

    Dear Members,

    I have updated MDS Radio with a new recording covering the Dow, XJO and the ASX Top 20.

    Click here to watch the presentation.

    Best Regards,
    Leon Hinde.

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    Monday, 23rd February 2010 Morning Wrap

    Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

    James Gerrish

    Click here to watch the presentation.

    or

    Click here to download the mp3 audio recording (877Kb).

    General Advice Only

    *********************************************

    In this morning s wrap Dow: down 0.2% 18 points
    Financial higher
    Commods lower;

    FTSE: Down 6 points

    Structures very positive

    CHINA: Down 0.49%
    Tracking down trending channel

    Oil: Up again $80.20
    Iran political instability

    Gold: down 0.78% or $8.70
    Commodities lower USD Higher

    SPI: Critical Level(s): Down 2 points
    Bounced off 200 DMA
    ASX News
    Results this morning for:
    - Amcor
    - Oil Search
    - Cons Media
    - Aristocrat Leisure
    - GPT Group

    Fairfax upbeat Caltex pays divi
    Seven major restructure

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    US Markets Mixed On 22/2/2010

    Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

    The US markets were almost unchanged, closing mixed.    The Dow closed  up 4 points  at 10,406, the  S&P500 was up 1 point  at 1110 and the Nasdaq was down 1 point at 2242.

    Gold was lower, while oil was higher.    Gold settled down $9.00 at $1113.10/oz  and crude oil was  up $0.39  at $80.16/bbl.

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    Gindalbie Metals Awards Mine Construction Contract To NRW Holdings

    Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

    Gindalbie Metals Limited (GBG ) is pleased to announce the award of a further major construction contract for the Karara Iron Ore Project in Western Australia. The Joint Venture company, Karara Mining Limited (KML), has awarded a staged earthworks and concrete construction contract, with a total value of $120 million, to the ASX-listed specialist civil and mining contractor, NRW Holdings Limited (NWH). The earthworks and concrete package encompasses most of the preliminary construction work upon which the concentrator will be built. As well as site earthworks and concrete foundations, the contract includes construction of site drains, site roads, a retention pond and the all-weather airstrip.

    The contract has a 14-month duration and will involve between 400-500 NRW personnel on site. The total earthworks and concrete package will involve the pouring of more than 40,000m3 of concrete, for which Boral has recently installed a special-purpose batching plant on site to ensure a steady and reliable source of concrete throughout the project construction period. Originally established in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields in 1994 as a privately owned civil constructing and general plant hire firm, NRW has grown to become one of Australia’s leading diversified suppliers to the Mining and Resources Sector. NRW listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2007 and today counts global resource giants such as BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group amongst its key client base. The award of the earthworks contract follows the award in December 2009 of a $70 million contract for construction of the main camp and accommodation village for the Karara Project to Western Australian company Doric Constructions (Australia) Pty Ltd.

    “This awarding of this construction package is another step forward for the Karara Project. Importantly, the early contractor engagement process implemented for the project is starting to show dividends with the work being well tendered by a select number of experienced contractors. Following an extensive process we are very pleased to announce the award of this major contract for the Karara Project to another Western Australian company,” said Gindalbie’s Managing Director, Mr Garret Dixon. “The earthworks package is one of the key construction packages for the Project and involves a major logistical effort. We are looking forward to working closely with the management of NRW Holdings in delivering this major contract.” Commenting on the contract award, NRW’s Managing Director Civil & Mining, Mr Willie Rooney said: “The award of this contract is a tremendous step forward in the diversification of the NRW skill base with the significant concrete component and, represents the opportunity to build a strong relationship with Gindalbie and Ansteel for future works.” Mr. Rooney went on to note that “it was particularly gratifying to be part of a world class project in the emerging Mid West region of Western Australia.”

    Gindalbie is well advanced towards achieving its vision of becoming a leading independent Australian iron ore company with a diversified portfolio of magnetite and hematite production assets, located in the Mid West region of Western Australia. The initial focus of Gindalbie’s growth strategy is the Karara Iron Ore Project, located 225km east of Geraldton, where it will deliver initial production of Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) hematite in the first half of 2011 to be followed by production of high grade magnetite concentrate and blast furnace quality pellets in the second half of 2011.  Ansteel is currently China’s second-largest steel producer and the biggest iron ore miner. It is the major producer in the north- east region of China, with crude steel production of 35 million tonnes and plans to increase output to approximately 50Mtpa.

    www.gindalbie.com.au

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    Brickworks To Double Capacity Of Plant

    Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

    Brickworks Limited (BKW) today announced plans to expand its Wollert-based brick factory, increasing the capacity to 170 million standard brick equivalents (SBE) up from its design capacity of 85 million SBE. The expanded factory will set new productivity and energy efficiency benchmarks in Australia. The expansion of the highly efficient Wollert plant will cost $65 million and will commence once the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Works Approval is issued.

    The expansion will significantly reduce emissions, in particular Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) and Carbon Dioxide (CO 2) and is expected to be completed by mid-2011, with commissioning to take place thereafter. Once completed, Austral BricksTM will be the first brick company in Melbourne to meet the stringent State Environmental Protection Policy requirements. The expansion of Wollert will result in the eventual closure and subsequent redevelopment of the Craigieburn brickworks (Est. 1964) and the closure of the Summerhill factory (Est. 1973). The timing of the closure and eventual redevelopment will be dependent upon the progress of construction and commissioning, the state of the market and the approval process for the redevelopment.

    Mr. Lindsay Partridge, Managing Director of Brickworks said: “The expansion will complete the rapid renewal of the company’s Victorian assets, reflecting the Board’s confidence in the Victorian economy and the long term brick market in that state and will cement Austral BricksTM market leading position in Victoria”.

    www.brickworks.com.au

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    Seven Network Merges With Caterpillar Dealer

    Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

    Seven Network Limited (SEV) and Australian Capital Equity Pty Ltd today announce the proposed creation of a leading Australian diversified operating and investment group through a scrip for scrip merger of Seven and WesTrac Holdings Pty Ltd . WesTrac Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACE.  The combined group will be called Seven Group Holdings Limited and listed on the ASX.

    Seven Group Holdings will comprise wholly-owned operating businesses and key strategic investments including 100% of WesTrac Group, the sole authorised Caterpillar dealer in Western Australia, New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory and the North East region of China; 47% of Seven Media Group, a joint venture with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts comprising Australia’s leading television network, Seven Network, Pacific Magazines, one of Australia’s two largest magazine publishing companies, and Yahoo!7; 23% of West Australian Newspaper Holdings, the leading media group in Western  Australia; 22% of Consolidated Media Holdings, which owns 25% of Foxtel and 50% of Premier Media Group; 66% of National Hire Limited, which in turn owns 46% of Coates Hire, the largest equipment hire business in Australia; and Cash and other existing Seven investments.

    Plans to create Seven Group Holdings were announced today by Mr Kerry Stokes, the Executive Chairman of ACE and Seven, and Mr Peter Ritchie, the Deputy Chairman and Independent Director of Seven. Mr Stokes said: “Seven and WesTrac Group are two great companies. Both are performing strongly and both have terrific opportunities for growth. We have had a long and proud association with both companies, which are both leaders in their respective areas, with what I consider the best management teams in the country. “Since the deal to create SMG, Seven has evolved into an investment holding company with strong media platforms and the financial capacity to expand into new sectors. We are excited about the potential opportunity this transaction has to transform Seven, and about the growth opportunity for all Seven shareholders.”

    The parties have agreed an enterprise value of WesTrac Group of $2.0 billion, comprising an equity value of $1.0 billion and assumed net debt of $1.0 billion. As part of the agreed enterprise value, WesTrac’s investment in National Hire will be acquired at a value of $246 million. As ACE has been unable to provide Seven access to due diligence, ACE has underwritten this valuation as at 30 June 2011. Based on WesTrac Group forecast FY2011 EBITDA of $231 million and EBIT of $192 million, and excluding the underwritten value of National Hire ($246m), the terms imply a blended multiple for WesTrac Group of 7.83 x FY11E EBITDA and 9.43 x FY11E EBIT.

    WesTrac Group has an ownership interest in three key businesses, a 100% interest in each of WesTrac Australia and WesTrac China and a 66% interest in National Hire Group Limited. WesTrac Group was established by ACE in 1990 with the WA territory, and expanded subsequently into North East China in 2001, and NSW/ACT in 2004, at the invitation of Caterpillar. WesTrac Australia operates the sole authorised Caterpillar dealer in WA, NSW and the ACT, providing equipment sales, service, and support, and is the market leader in each of these territories. WesTrac Australia services the mining, infrastructure, and non-residential construction markets in each of these regions. WesTrac is focused on equipment management through full equipment lifecycle and is not reliant solely on machine sales. WesTrac Australia is expected to achieve forecast sales and EBITDA of approximately $1.9 billion and $197 million respectively in FY2011.

    www.sevengroup.com.au.

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    Monday, 22nd February 2010 Morning Wrap

    Monday, February 22nd, 2010

    Presented by Michael Hevern
    MDSFinancial

    Click here to watch the presentation.

    or

    Click here to download the mp3 audio recording (1150Kb).

    General Advice Only
    ************************************************
    In this morning s wrap

    SP500: up 0.2% (up 3.4% for Week)
    Solid Week; Fed Raises Discount Rate;
    Best Week Since November

    NASDAQ: up 0.1% (up 3% for Week)
    Earnings Improve;
    Good Manufacturing Data

    Dollar Index: Testing Highs
    US$ Consolidates;
    A$ up 90.02

    FTSE: up 0.6% (up 4.5% for Week)
    Miners & Financial Lead;
    DAX & CAC up 0.6% (up 4.% & 5% for Week)

    GERMANY: up 0.6% (up 4.% for Week)
    Germany: Post Biggest Weekly Gains Since July;
    China: Closed; Hang Seng down 2% for Week

    Oil: up 1% ($80) (up 8.1% for Week)
    Great Week;
    Refinery Strike in France

    Gold: up 0.3% ($1117) (up 1.2% for Week)
    Commodities Lower;
    USD Consolidates

    SPI:Critical Level(s): 4500 to 4750 (up 3.5% for Week)
    SPI up 58 (1.3%)
    Current Support Level Critical

    ASX News
    SEV Restructure rumour? Peter Gammell New CEO
    CTX FY report to beat forecasts
    CEY 1H profit up 27%; sees strong demand thermal coal

    Reporting:
    Mon SEV, CTX, FXJ, IIN, NIB
    Tues ALL, GPT, OCH, AMC
    Wed DOW, GFF, IAG, LLC, RHC, ORG
    Thu MAP, TOL, ILU, OZL
    Fri AGL, HVN, QBE,WOW, ANZ (update)

    ASX to open higher
    US & UK higher late in session; strong week
    US retailers,Newmont, home builders reporting this week; Bernanke

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    Wotif.com Holdings Ex Dividend On 15/3/2010

    Monday, February 22nd, 2010

    Wotif.com Holdings (WTF) will go ex dividend on 15/3/2010. The current dividend payment is 9 cents and it is 100% franked. The record date is 19/3/2010 and the dividend will be paid on 31/3/2010. Based on the full year payment the dividend yield is 2.9%.

    *Current Yield: 1.3% Franking: 100% DRP Discount: Not Available

    www.wotifgroup.com

    *Yield has been calculated on the closing price on the 18/2/2010. Current yield is based on the current dividend payment only.

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