Daily FNArena News - Australia

Higher production costs mean Woodside’s earnings will fall well short of expectations and brokers have cut their numbers accordingly.

David Jones has cut its earnings guidance following disappointing Christmas sales, but brokers expect even this revised guidance will be hard to achieve.

Australian consumers are more pessimistic than Westpac economists when it comes to inflation and unemployment.

After rises in November and December, consumer sentiment has again turned lower now that the fiscal stimulus has been spent.

Rumours are circulating Parmalat may be eyeing up Goodman Fielder’s underperforming dairy division.

Westpac economists believe there’s scope for a negative official inflation outcome in the December quarter.

Citi analysts argue consensus earnings expectations for Computershare are potentially too high at present.

The December survey into consumer prices by TD Waterhouse and Melbourne Institute suggests disinflation remains the trend in Australia.

Brokers are mixed in their assessment of December’s housing finance data, but one thing seems certain, house prices must fall.

Australian unemployment numbers revealed employers are shedding full time jobs. Expect the RBA to continue cutting rates.