Daily FNArena News - Australia

Even the most bearish of analysts is still cutting FY09 earnings forecasts.

Concerns of an advertising downturn have seen Austereo shares sold off in recent months but both Deutsche and Merrill Lynch see the stock as oversold and have upgraded to Buy ratings.

Rio’s share price is being fluffed up by BHP rumours despite a poor production report.

Credit card debt in February grew at its lowest rate in 13 years and according to CommSec this adds to the evidence enough has been done for the RBA to have finished with interest rate increases.

Another quarter, another great Woolies sales result. But how much of that is just inflation?

Australians are now as wealthy as they have ever you been, didn’t you know.

QBE Insurance has officially made a merger offer to Insurance Australia Group and while brokers see the deal as accretive Credit Suisse questions whether it is the best deal for the company.

The latest Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index of Economic Activity confirms the trend suggested by previous data: the economy in Australia is slowing.

Minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest meeting suggest increased confidence inflation is slowly coming under control, potentially setting the scene for rate cuts this year or next.

Sino Gold’s quarterly report included lower production forecasts and higher costs but Merrill Lynch and Macquarie remain positive given the growth potential in the group.