Daily FNArena News

Unlike the US and British banks, European banks have been deathly quiet about their balance sheets. And a European economic downturn appears inevitable.

Macquarie has surveyed 1,000 financial planners in Australia and found most remain bullish on equity markets, while clients are increasingly turning to structured products to generate returns.

Labour’s first federal Budget has had a positive impact on consumer confidence, it would seem, but Westpac economists point out it’s still looking gloomy.

As Foster’s wishes it had never heard of a company called Southcorp, could Coca-Cola be circling?

Leighton Holdings is part of a consortium to win Brisbane’s Airport Link contract but while the group’s earnings growth outlook remains solid value is becoming a question.

QBE has made a “final” offer. IAG says not good enough but let’s talk. It’s not over yet.

The market might like to think the RBA is done raising interest rates, but this is not necessarily the consensus view inside the RBA board.

ANZ suggests there are enough positives to believe the Australian dollar can make further gains against the US dollar, with parity a possibility.

TD Securities suggests New Zealand’s GDP growth for the first quarter of the year could even be negative, so bringing forward rate cuts and weakening the NZ dollar.

Brokers reassess their views on the share market.