Daily FNArena News - Australia

Analysts don’t have a lot of faith in a Lion Nathan bid succeeding, and certainly not at the current offer price.

Energy Resources of Australia is returning better than expected exploration results from its Ranger 3 Deeps project and this offers significant valuation upside according to brokers.

Retail sales have slowed more than expected and while the next few months are looking fine, trouble is brewing in 2009.

Parent companies of two of Australia’s leading beverages companies are discussing merger, according to a newspaper report.

Government policy in Australia has shifted to boosting household income to stave off recession and it should until Christmas.

With commodity prices continuing to weaken earnings forecasts continue to come down for Alumina, with brokers expressing little confidence in their lowered estimates.

Sonic Healthcare has announced a capital raising and analysts have reacted favourably.

Incitec Pivot delivered a better than expected profit result but it was the accompanying equity issue that has divided broker opinion.

With the September quarter Wage Price Index lower than expected, the RBA has more scope to cut rates to deal with the weakening economy.

Citi has reiterated its Sell rating on Asciano but others in the market continue to see value in the stock at current levels.