Daily FNArena News - Australia

NAB and CommSec had been holding out in the “no more 2006 rate rises” camp, but the story has changed. CommSec capitulated last week, and NAB has followed today.

Westpac has become the cheapest bank on Merrill Lynch’s valuation screens. Longer term the broker still prefers St George.

Sonic Healthcare (SHL) has lost a key contract in New Zealand, but brokers remain positive on the outlook for the group as the key to its growth remains Europe and the US.

After a period of solid organic growth, the analysts at Intersuisse feel Oakton is now ready to go on the acquisition trail.

Freshly renamed CuDeco’s shares are to remain suspended for the time being. Maybe next week?

Bendigo Mining (BDG) has announced its first gold pour from the Kangaroo Flat mine, the first step to its goal of becoming a low cost, 600,000 ounce annual producer.

Once media ownership laws are amended, it seems Fairfax and Austereo will turn out to be the most likely targets, brokers argue.

Microequities sees potential in iiNet (IIN) as the recent deal with Powertel (PWT) gives it a chance to expand.

Repeatedly strong employment data is causing a shift in economists’ interest rate expectations.

After a bad couple of months, several analysts are changing the way they look at QBE, speculating the market may be missing some value.