Daily FNArena News - Australia

Monthly retail sales and trade data delivered mixed signals for the Australian economy but this has not changed the view of a number of ecocnomists the Reserve Bank will lift rates next week.

With iron ore prices like these, there’s no point sitting around watching the world go by. JP Morgan sees grand, and rapid, expansion plans.

Spotless Group has again revised down earnings in what Credit Suisse suggests is becoming an annual tradition, one ABN Amro views as offering no reason to hold the stock.

Zinifex’s Century mine delivered record production but the story is now one of the zinc price and the likely proceeds from the smelting asset sale and here brokers are not in agreement.

A 10% profit upgrade from Mitchell (formerly emitch) suggests the group’s traditional media acquisition is performing well.

CSL has received approval for a liquid version of its IVIG compound in the US and UBS suggests the market will have to play catch up with earnings forecasts as a result.

Two acquisitions should not only strengthen Arasor’s technological position in the market, but also give its profits a boost, Patersons analyst Russell Wright says.

There remains no broker consensus on Santos, with Buy ratings reflecting potential corporate activity and Sell ratings the stock’s current premium to valuations.

Perseverance has delivered a quarterly in line with expectations that were hosed down a couple of weeks ago, leaving brokers to question whether the apparent value in the stock can be realised.

Inflation has again reared its ugly head as the quarterly CPI outcome was stronger than the market expected, leading economists to agree rates seem to be heading higher.