Daily FNArena News

Following yesterday’s briefing on the progress of its UK restructuring, National Australia Bank (NAB) is seen as offering something different to the other major banks but not everyone is convinced.

News Corp and Fairfax are willing to put their differences aside and jointly take on Seek in the online job classifieds market, Crikey reports.

The $4.50 takeover offer for Colorado (CDO) may not be enough according to analysts, who suggest shareholders wait for the company’s response to the hostile bid.

Austock Securities suggests the Timbercorp joint ventre is a more natural owner of Chiquita’s assets and so should be able to extract greater benefits from what are strong market positions.

The oil price may have eased but observers agree any withdrawal of Iranian oil from the market, as a result of the current Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, will see oil at US$100/bbl in a flash due to insufficient spare capacity.

Nothing has changed since last month regarding discussions between E*trade and St George bank about a wholesale broking service agreement, says E*trade.

China’s growth for the June quarter was higher than expected at 11.3%, leading to renewed speculation of further increases in interest rates. But most experts suggest this is not enough without further adjustments to the exchange rate.

While some brokers are concerned that Woolworths is looking expensive at current levels, others argue that the company is on track to deliver solid growth.

A flight to the US dollar and some glimmer of hope in the Middle East conflict has spurred the latest round of gold profit-taking.

Two offers and a strategic review. M&A is still very much alive in Australia.