“In my opinion the bottom of the [residential property] market was the beginning of January, that is when I took the least deposits" Harry Triguboff, MD, Meriton
Domestic Lending
"NAB will remain well and truly open for business. I met with the bank's top 100 leaders in Melbourne on Monday and emphasised to them that NAB stands ready to lend to good-quality propositions for both businesses and home buyers."
Philip Chronican, Interim CEO, NAB
"ANZ is ready to lend, especially for housing and small businesses. After a period of perhaps being too cautious, ANZ is easing back towards a sensible equilibrium."
Shayne Elliott, CEO, ANZ
Residential Property
"In my opinion the bottom of the [residential property] market was the beginning of January, that is when I took the least deposits."
Harry Triguboff, MD, Meriton
“The significant reduction in transaction volumes in the real estate sector has continued, however we are seeing signs that sellers are now more prepared to meet the market and interest rates continue to be at historic lows.”
Geoff Lucas, CEO, McGrath Real Estate
Global Consumer
"Wholesale market conditions, especially in our RV [recreational vehicle] segments are even tougher than we had originally planned."
Michael Happe, CEO, Winnebago Industries
"Sport has increasingly become more a part of life for consumers in China."
Andy Campion, CFO, Nike Inc
"Customers' access to capital and financing remain strong as financing companies have for the most part, avoided abnormally constraining credit availability."
Michael Happe, CEO, Winnebago Inc
Domestic Retail
"As a direct result of unrealistic rent expectations and in a true symbol of the changing nature of the retail market, Premier Retail will close its original flagship Just Jeans store on Chapel Street (Victoria) in April 2019, which opened 48 years ago."
Premier Investments Market Announcement
"Over 5 million Australians would now consider buying groceries online in the next 12 months – just under a third of Australian grocery shoppers. The market is there for the taking however thus far consumers haven’t been convinced by the online grocery services on offer. Just 4% of grocery shoppers buy their groceries online in an average month equivalent to about 600,000 Australians."
Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan Research
“Although the gap between interest in online grocery shopping and the follow through remains significant, and has persisted for several years, there have been significant developments in the Australian grocery and food markets in recent months and there are more coming."
Michele Levine, CEO Roy Morgan Research
"The retail environment is certainly challenging."
Xavier Simonet, CEO, Kathmandu Holdings Ltd
Agriculture
“The quality of the freshly shorn Australian wool clip is unfortunately declining. The relentless and on-going drought across a large part of the nation continues to negatively impact upon wool quality. Large proportions of the New South Wales and South Australian clips are all influenced negatively to some degree.”
Statement from Australian Wool Innovation Ltd
Gas
“The issue is not enough [gas] supply and as a consequence domestic consumers and industrial buyers are being asked to pay prices that I don’t believe are sustainable for heavy industry.”
Stephen Bell, CEO, Qenos [Australia’s largest petrochemical producer]
Environment
"If you look at the food waste in the chain where we have food waste going into landfill, the carbon footprint to produce that product and get it into the food chain is sometimes a greater impact than the plastic in landfill."
Paul Turner, Head of Fresh Produce, Woolworths
Resources and Mining
"We do have to face the reality of a potential deficit [in iron ore]."
Andrew Forrest, Chairman, Fortescue Metals Group
"Limited availability of high quality coals and the increasing regulatory barriers to the development of new mines will constrain the supply side response from Australian coal producers. These fundamental market forces provide a strong foundation for prices of high quality thermal coal over the long term."
Shane Stephan, CEO, New Hope Coal
Global Economy
"It does look like the pace of increase in the economy has slowed down. I'd call it somewhere close to noticeably, but I wouldn't go beyond that."
Warren Buffett, CEO, Berkshire Hathaway Inc
“We’ve seen some improvement lately, but it remains patchy, and not enough to offset the challenging start to the year. It is one of the worst first quarter environments in recent history for us.”
Sergio Ermotti, CEO, UBS