Daily FNArena News - Australia

The latest Russell Investments survey of fund managers shows a defensive outlook remains the dominant view as cash and bonds are favoured over equities.

Standard Chartered argues the Varanus gas explosion could knock a full percentage point off Australia’s second half GDP.

Lend Lease has been rebuffed in its bid for FKP but Austock Securities sees other value opportunities in the retirement sector of the market.

Higher fuel prices and interest rates would suggest Australians are doing it tough but as CommSec notes, tax cuts and wage increases mean household budgets are in better shape now than a few years ago.

In the twenty-first century world of high-tech, a utility billing systems provider may not seem exciting. But don’t be fooled.

FDA hold-ups in the US mean sales of Alchemia’s synthetic heparin compound will be later than previously expected but ABN Amro Morgans continues to like the story.

As earnings confession season continues Mirvac is the latest to revise guidance lower, brokers being quick to cut estimates and price targets as a result.

Analysts are angry that the fallen Babcock empire is as much to do with serially inadequate disclosure as it is to do with poor management.

QMastor is a small company doing big things in mining logistics software.

Flight Centre has lifted earnings guidance for the current year but brokers see increasing headwinds in FY09 and so have dropped price targets significantly.