Daily FNArena News

According to CBA economist Michael Blythe there is a chance investors are overplaying the fears of a US downturn as while the short-term outlook remains tough a recession is no certainty.

Weekly musings from your editor. If the trend is no longer investors’ friend, what should they do instead?

Uranium producer Energy Resources of Australia had a tough start to 2007 but came home much stronger and upward revisions to earnings estimates has a number of brokers rating the shares as a Buy.

In line with what one would have expected, consumer confidence in Australia has fallen markedly in January.

As the Chinese government continues its fight against inflation its policy measures are becoming more restrictive and this has GaveKal cautious on the outlook for Chinese equities.

Intersuisse rates AJ Lucas as a buy as the company’s core infrastructure services operations should continue to deliver strong growth and yesterday’s Sydney Gas deal adds some blue sky.

Market analysts remain divided on the outlook for copper prices, as bullish factors such as potential supply side issues are countered by the impact of any slowdown in the global economy.

US shares have staged the rally that was believed to be overdue, but headwinds remain, according to strategists at BCA Research.

Ongoing uncertainties in global credit markets and the flow through earnings impact on equities are likely to bring defensive stocks bank into favour, with broker Intersuisse suggesting CSL is a suitable play.

According to BMO’s Donald Coxe gold has rallied as it is an asset that cannot be written down, so the group continues to like the yellow metal.