Latest Company Announcements

Search Loading
Sectors: Technology, Internet, Health Care, Energy/Mining, Finance, Green/Clean Technology, Telecommunications, Agriculture, Property, IPO, Pre IPO

Business confidence grows, employment, profit and investment to increase

Dun & Bradstreet CEO Christine Christian discusses the findings of the D&B National Business Expectations Survey 2010

Business confidence grows, employment, profit and investment to increase 5 March 2010

 


By Christine Christian, CEO, Dun & Bradstreet

 

Each quarter Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) asks a sample of executives in manufacturing, wholesale and retail businesses across Australia if they expect an increase, decrease or no change in their quarter-ahead sales, profits, employees, capital investment, inventories and selling prices compared with the same quarter a year ago. The executives are also asked for actual changes over the twelve months to the latest completed quarter. Since its introduction in Australia in 1988, the D&B National Business Expectations Survey has proven to be a highly reliable measure of economic performance.

 

Findings of the latest Survey, conducted in January 2010 showed that capacity issues and fierce competition for skilled labour looks set to return as a feature of the Australian economy as firms report their strongest expectations in many years for inventory and employment growth. In other key indices profits and capital investment expectations increased.

 

Employment expectations for June quarter 2010 are five percentage points higher than the March quarter of 2010 reaching an index of 5. Eleven percent of firms are planning to increase staff levels and six percent to reduce employee numbers. These figures are now a 31 percent improvement on the June quarter 2009 expected employment index figure of minus twenty six percentage points. This was the lowest record employment in the history of the survey.

 

Despite reports of recent falls in job advertisement numbers, all sectors now have positive expectations for growth in employment numbers. Durables manufacturers have the highest index of a net seven with 14 percent expecting to increase employment and seven percent expecting to decrease staff numbers.

 

The expectation of increased intention to employ staff is a sign that Australian firms believe that 2010 will be better than a difficult 2009. With unemployment being seen as a major concern throughout 2009 the improved employment expectations across all sectors is welcome news for both those who are in the labour market and for business confidence on the whole. The rise in confidence of 31 percentage points since the lows of the June quarter of 2009 is one of the biggest improvements in the history of the survey.

 

In further good news Australian firms’ outlook for profits expectations has also continued to improve – the index of 15 for June quarter 2010 is the highest level in five years. Twenty seven percent of Australian executives surveyed now anticipate profits will increase in the June quarter and only 12 percent expect a fall. Executives from the retail sector have the highest profits expectations with 30 percent expecting an increase and just 10 percent a decrease.

 

The expected sales index however fell three points to 25 but retained the strong positive level of the two previous quarters. The sales index is also still up 73 points on the trough of the June quarter 2009. Thirty nine percent of firms expect an increase in sales and 14 percent a decrease in sales in June quarter 2010. The decline of three points in the overall index was due to a reduction of 18 points from the retail sector’s expectations index of 35 for the March quarter. March was however the highest retail sales expectations index in more than six years.

 

Like sales expectations, capital investment expectations moved only slightly from the previous quarter increasing three percentage points. However expectations for growth in capital investment are equal to their highest level in seven years reaching an index of ten, twenty percentage points higher than the June quarter of 2009. Twelve percent of firms surveyed expect to increase capital investment, while just two percent are planning to decrease spending in this area. Wholesalers have experienced the most significant increase in expectations (up 23 percentage points since the June quarter 2009) as the capital investment index returned to positive territory.

 

Actual capital investment in December quarter 2009 is the highest in more than six years and has now had three positive quarters after five negative quarters from March 2008 to March 2009. Fifteen percent of firms had more capital investment and four percent less capital investment than in the December quarter of 2008.

 

Expectations for growth in profits and staff numbers have improved and are now equal to the highest levels in five years. Businesses are supporting these expectations with intentions to make relatively strong increases in capital investment and inventories, indicating a stronger business performance in 2010 as compared to 2009. If the profit, capital investment and employment expectations of Australian firms are met this could go a long way to restoring Australia to pre Global Financial Crisis levels of business activity. The next challenge will be how Australian firms go about meeting these expectations between now and the June quarter.

 

About Christine Christian

Christine Christian is recognised as a leading authority on credit reporting, risk and debt management and business intelligence. Christine was appointed CEO of Dun & Bradstreet Australia and New Zealand (D&B) in 2001 after leading the management buy-out of these operations from the D&B global company.

 

About Dun & Bradstreet

D&B is the world’s leading provider of business-to-business credit, marketing and purchasing information and receivables management services. D&B manages the world’s most valuable commercial database with information on more than 150 million companies.




 

CEO Interviews

Search Loading
Scott Power - Brisbane Capital Showcase

Scott Power is a Senior Analyst with RBS Morgans

Steve Baxter Presentation from the Brisbane Capital Sho...

Steve Baxter Presentation from the Brisbane Capital Showcase

Biosana Pty Ltd - Brisbane Capital Showcase Investor Pr...

Biosana Pty Ltd - Brisbane Capital Showcase Investor Presentation

Chip Tyre - Investor Presentation Brisbane Capital Show...

Chip Tyre - Investor Presentation Brisbane Capital Showcase

Mesynthes - Investor Presentation Brisbane Capital Show...

Mesynthes Limited - Investor Presentation Brisbane Capital Showcase

Jumbo Interactive Investor Presentation (ASX:JIN)

Just as other industries have moved successfully onto the Internet (Airfares, Employment, Accommodation, Real Estate, et...

Easylodge Infrastructure Services Investor Presentation

Easylodge was founded in 2006 to provide software and infrastructure services to the non-mortgage finance industry, and ...

Phylogica (Investor Presentation)

Phylogica Limited (ASX: PYC) is a biotechnology company based in Perth, Australia and Oxford UK, with a world-class drug...

Australian Real Estate Lottery (CEO Interview)

The Australian Real Estate Lottery model is a unique mixture of gaming and property to create a financing tool to acquir...

Easylodge Infrastructure Service (CEO Interview)

Easylodge was founded in 2006 to provide software and infrastructure services to the non-mortgage finance industry, and ...

Wholesale Investor Capital Showcase 2012

Date: Wednesday 4th April, 2012 Location: PwC Offices Brisbane, Riverside Centre Wholesale Investor and AusBiotech w...

Investment Administration Pty Ltd (CEO Interview)

Investment Administration (InvestAdmin) provides a complete, robust, scalable, technology based solution for the end-to-...

Rubber Ducky Defence (CEO Interview)

Rubber Ducky Defence is the developer of a powerful, low-cost maritime platform and weapons system which has the potenti...

BioPower Systems (CEO Interview)

BioPower Systems is focused on developing advanced technologies which convert the energy in waves and tides to grid-read...

Qanda Technology Limited (CEO Interview)

Qanda Technology owns 2 operating businesses. - Marketboomer provided online procurement services and technology to h...

PwC Private Business Barometer

Welcome to the ninth edition of the PwC Private Business Barometer.

Exa Web Solutions (CEO Interview)

Exa was founded in 2000 and has since become Australia's number one online marketing and web solutions company. Through ...

WH Medical Pty Ltd (CEO Interview)

Gold Coast Accident & Medical Clinic (A&MC) is a private emergency clinic designed to take direct pressure of the public...

Elemental Energy Technologies Ltd (CEO Interview)

Elemental Energy Technologies Ltd (“EET”) has been formed to commercialise its breakthrough third generation marine ...

Cleantech and Renewable Energy Showcase

Wholesale Investor in conjunction with our Principal Support Partners, PwC are proud to host the Cleantech and Renewable...

Immuron Ltd (CEO Interview)

Immuron Ltd is a biopharmaceutical development company with a versatile technology platform that has allowed it to devel...

Palace Resources (CEO Interview)

Palace Resources (ASX Code: PXR) is progressing due diligence on the Lumpo coal project (“Lumpo Project”) in West Su...

BioDiem Ltd (CEO Interview)

BioDiem is a vaccine company developing vaccines for both treatment and prevention of disease. The leading technology is...

Eastern Harmony New Zealand Ltd (CEO Interview)

EHNZ has commenced business as a wholesaler/distributor of NZ milk powder products in the Asia Pacific region

Equiome Pty. Ltd (Investor Presentation)

Equiome is a specialist financier of all aspects of large corporate software projects, which allows companies to realise...

Cynergy Health (Investor Presentation)

Our objective is to grow a broad based consumer health company by developing or acquiring high potential brands or produ...

Bizpanel Limited (Investor Presentatio)

The Australian Franchise Industry is a $138 billion industry featuring 1,025 franchisors and 69,900 franchise businesses...

Exa Web Solutions (Investor Presentation)

Exa is Australia’s largest Online / Apps / Web / Mobile company, with over 1000 clients. Exa generates significant ...

Elemental Energy Technologies LTD (Investor Presentatio...

Elemental Energy Technologies Ltd (“EET”) has been formed to commercialise its breakthrough third generation marine...

Qanda Technology Limited (Investor Presentation)

Qanda Technology owns 2 operating businesses. - Marketboomer provided online procurement services and technology to h...

Mint Wireless Limited (Investor Presentation)

Mint Wireless Limited (Mint) is a global payments and mobile transactions company listed on the Australian Securities Ex...

Photonz Corporation Limited (CEO Interview)

Photonz is a world-leader in the production of the omega-3 compound “EPA” by fermentation for high purity, pharmaceu...

Benitec Ltd (CEO Interview)

Benitec Limited is a publicly listed (ASX:BLT) biotechnology company developing novel human therapies based on a transfo...

Bizpanel Limited (CEO Interview)

The Australian Franchise Industry is a $138 billion industry featuring 1,025 franchisors and 69,900 franchise businesses...

Intellect Projects

Intellect Projects is a property developing company, located within the inner suburbs of Melbourne, specialising in qual...

Mint Wireless Ltd (CEO Interview)

Mint Wireless Limited (Mint) is a global payments and mobile transactions company listed on the Australian Securities Ex...

Folkestone (CEO Interview)

Folkestone is a real estate investment, development and funds management company listed on the ASX (Code: FLK).

Jubilent Health Aust. Ltd (CEO Interview)

Based in Australia, Jubilent Health has an international focus that allows us to manufacture and retail pharmaceutical p...

Diamond Energy (CEO Interview)

Established renewable/low-carbon electricity integrated “gen-tailer” seeking to accelerate expansion.

Xenexus Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd (CEO Interview)

Xenexus is undertaking R & D on existing drugs in new indications to secure new use patents on these re-profiled drugs.

Sun Connect (CEO Interview)

Sun Connect Pty Ltd is a wholly privately owned Australian importer, designer and installer of solar power components. S...

Third Link Growth Fund (CEO Interview)

The portfolio manager of the Third link Growth Fund is funds management industry stalwart Chris Cuffe, who has drawn on ...

Future Capital Development Fund (CEO Interview)

Future Capital Development Fund Limited is a pooled development fund (PDF). As a PDF, the Company will actively seek to ...

KFSU Limited (CEO Interview)

Established in 2006, KFSU Limited ACN 119 778 326 is a food ingredient manufacturing company creating natural products f...

Equiome (CEO Interview)

Equiome is a specialist financier of all aspects of large corporate software projects, which allows companies to realise...

Special Phage Holdings (Investor Presentation June 2011...

Special Phage Holdings (SPH) is an innovative biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel antibacterials in re...

Wholesale Investor (Investor Presentation - June 2011)

Wholesale Investor is Australia's largest private investment platform directly connecting high net worth and professionl...

Sun Connect Pty Ltd (Investor Presentation - June 2011)

Sun Connect Pty Ltd is a wholly privately owned Australian importer, designer and installer of solar power components. S...

Future Capital Development Fund (Investor Presentation ...

Future Capital Development Fund Limited is a pooled development fund (PDF). As a PDF, the Company will actively seek to ...

Colmax Glass (Investor Presentation - June 2011)

Colmax Glass has rapidly become Australia’s premier post-consumer glass recycler due to its ability to transform recyc...

Medivac - CEO Interview

MediVac was incorporated in 1997 to commercialise patented technology for the treatment of biological waste that would r...

Colmax Glass Recyclers

Colmax Glass has rapidly become Australia’s premier post-consumer glass recycler due to its ability to transform recyc...

Flinders Exploration - Melbourne Investor Presentation

FEX is a new mineral development company with gold resources and a copper Exploration Target ready to commence pre-feasi...

Minotaur Exploration - Investor Presentation

Minotaur specialises in application of cutting-edge geophysical techniques to locate virgin mineralisation deep below th...

Latin Resources Limited

Latin Resources Limited is a mineral exploration company focused on creating shareholder wealth through the identificati...

Audio Pixels Limited - Investor Presentation

Audio Pixels Limited was founded in July 2006 has developed a revolutionary technological platform for reproducing sound...

Virax Holdings Limited

Developing therapeutics for autoimmune diseases, AIDS, cancers, infectious diseases based on patented Co-X-Gene platform...

Deasil Management Group

Philip Weinman could be Australia’s ultimate serial entrepreneur. After starting and selling seven fast-growing busine...

Colmax Glass - Investor Presentation

Colmax Glass has rapidly become Australia’s premier post-consumer glass recycler due to its ability to transform recyc...

Third Link - Investor Presentation

The opportunity to invest in a professionally managed investment fund, with all fees received by the investment manager,...

Commissioners Gold - Investor Presentation

I have pleasure in presenting to you an offer to subscribe for shares in Commissioners Gold Limited, a new gold explora...

Biogenerics Australia - Investor Presentation

Biogenerics Australia (BGA) was established in 2005 to introduce cheaper generic forms of biological drugs into Australi...

Virtual Gaming Worlds (Investor Presentation)

Are developing a unique online casino operation, enabling players to interact via Social Network Gaming and Massively Mu...

Equiome (Investor Presentation)

Equiome is a specialist financier of all aspects of large corporate software projects, which allows companies to realise...

Global Digital Networks (Investor Presentation)

l Digital Networks is an innovative Information Services and Technology company that is leading the revolution in deleiv...

Advanced Braking Technology (Investor Presentation)

Advanced Braking Technology Ltd has commercialised an innovative and patented enclosed oil cooled braking system that is...

Mesynthes (Investor Presentation)

Mesynthes is a soft-tissue reconstruction company using its proprietary Endoform technology to develop regenerative tiss...

Jumbo Interactive (Investor Presentation)

Jumbo Interactive Ltd is an innovative and successful online lottery business that has created the hugely popular Oz Lot...

Magma Mines

Magma Mines is wholly focused on exploration of mineral resources in Fiji. For a number of years Magma has held explorat...

Phylogica Limited - ASX Small Cap Showcase

ylogica Limited (ASX: PYC) is a biotechnology company based in Perth, Australia and Oxford UK, with a world-class drug d...

Biogenerics Australia

Biogenerics Australia Pty Ltd (BGA) was established in early 2005 by Mr Peter Simpson and has as its primary commercial ...

Progen Pharmaceutical (Small Cap Showcase 2011)

Progen Pharmaceuticals Limited (Progen) is a dual listed Australian (ASX:PGL & US OTC: PGLA) clinical stage oncology dru...

Virax Holdings Limited

Virax Holdings Limited (Virax) is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in the discovery and development o...

Viralytics Limited (Small Cap Showcase 2011)

Oncolytic virotherapy makes use of the cancer destroying capabilities of a range of benign viruses. The potential of o...

EcoQuest (Small Cap Showcase 2011)

After two years or extensive research, EcoQuest Limited is poised to commercialise its 93% biodegradable nappies and com...

Circadian Technologies (Small Cap Showcase 2011)

Circadian Technologies Limited (Circadian) is an Australia-based company. The Company’s principal activity is to devel...

Advanced Braking Technology

Advanced Braking Technology Ltd has commercialised an innovative and patented enclosed oil cooled braking system that is...

Phosphagenics (Small Cap Showcase 2011)

Phosphagenics is a completely advanced company with a platform delivery technology currently developing products for hum...

Eastland Medical Systems Limited (Small Cap Showcase 20...

Eastland Medical Systems Ltd (EMS) is an Australian based Biotechnology licensing company. Our focus is the identificati...

Gold Road Resources Limited (Small Cap Showcase 2011)

Gold Road Resources Limited is developing its 100%-owned Yamarna Gold Project, a 3,200km2 tenement covering the majority...

Resonance Health (ASX:RHT)

Resonance Health develops unique quantitative MRI image analysis technologies for the diagnosis and monitoring of human ...

Jumbo Interactive (Small Cap Showcase 2011)

Jumbo Interactive (JIN) is an Australia-based company. It has two segments: Internet Lotteries, and Software Publishing ...

Phylogica Limited (ASX:PYC) - Reuters Insider

Phylogica is a public company engaged in the discovery and development of novel peptide-based biopharmaceuticals. Phylog...

Enerji Limited (ASX:ERJ)

Enerji is a Perth-based emerging green power utility specialising in the provision of Opcon Powerbox waste heat conversi...

Gold Mines of Peru (ASX:GMO) -Thomson Reuters Insider

Gold Mines of Peru has a two-pronged strategy to secure, develop and exploit advanced gold and silver assets in central ...

KarmelSonix (ASX:KSX) - Thomson Reuters Insider

KarmelSonix (KSX) is a commercial stage, ASX listed, medical device company that manufactures and sells products that as...

EcoQuest (ASX:ECQ) CEO Interview - Reuters Insider

After two years or extensive research, EcoQuest Limited is poised to commercialise its 93% biodegradable nappies and com...

Global Digital Networks Pty Ltd - Thomson Reuters Insid...

Global Digital Networks is an innovative Information Services and Technology company

Cloncurry Metals Limited (ASX:CCU) -Thomson Reuters Ins...

Cloncurry Metals Limited has excellent exploration ground in Queensland, Australia and in the state of Michoacan, Mexico...

Carbon Conscious Limited (ASX:CCF) - Thomson Reuters In...

Carbon Conscious is Australia’s leading carbon forest sink project developer.

Progen Pharmaceuticals (ASX:PGL) - Thomson Reuters Insi...

Progen Pharmaceuticals Limited (Progen) is a dual listed Australian (ASX:PGL & US OTC: PGLA) clinical stage oncology dru...

Viralytics (ASX:VLA) - Thomson Reuters Insider

The development of targeted cancer therapies using oncolytic viruses to detect, invade and destroy cancer cells. Oncolyt...

Patrys Limited (ASX:PAB) - Thomson Reuters Insider

Patrys develops natural human antibody-based treatments for cancer.

Rox Resources (ASX:ROX) -Thomson Reuters Insider

Rox owns the Myrtle project in the NT, just south of the McArthur River mine, where a resource of 43.6 million tonnes gr...

EcoQuest (ASX:ECQ) - Thomson Reuters Insider

After two years or extensive research, EcoQuest Limited is poised to commercialise its 93% biodegradable nappies and com...

Minemakers (MAK) - Thomson Reuters Insider

Minemakers Limited (ASX Code: MAK), since its inception in 2004 and listing in October 2006, has aimed to acquire major ...

Vocus Communication Ltd (ASX:VOC) - Thomson Reuters Ins...

Vocus Communications Ltd. (ASX:VOC) is a pioneering, newly ASX- listed, wholesale voice and data provider, backed by Inv...

Because Group International

Because Group International Ltd (Because Group) is a global digital media distribution company with operations in the US...

Anteo Diagnostics - Thomson Reuters Insider

Anteo has demonstrated further applications of the technology in several other large market segments such as clinical as...