Daily FNArena News

Macquarie’s result has, in the view of a number of brokers, shown enough that it should allay some concerns over the future viability of the group’s business model.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Leading Index fell sharply in September and bank chief economist Bill Evans suggests this implies weak growth through the first half of 2009.

The need for the recent run of big rate cuts is undeniable, that more cuts are coming is inarguable, so the question is: What is neutral?

James Hardie delivered a better than expected quarterly profit result but most brokers remain cautious as conditions simply continue to worsen.

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.

The spot uranium price jumped another US$5 this week.

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

Acording to Danske Bank the recent rapid rise in risk aversion has finished and this means an improved outlook for the US Dollar and the euro against the yen and Swiss franc.

It was only the first step but the world’s most powerful economies were able to agree that it is time to recognise the financial market as a global enterprise.