Daily FNArena News

Weekly musings from your editor.

Accepting another painful public defeat in this year’s annual iron ore contract negotiations doesn’t come easy for the Chinese steel mills. However, the quest for revenge has already begun.

Traffic Technologies’ acquisition of Guard Rail Installations has prompted Austock to raise its target on the company to 42c and its recommendation to Strong Buy.

A lower AUD, down to mid-60c in 2007, reduced domestic demand and lower corporate earnings should push the ASX200 down to 3,000 by 2010, Morgan Stanley says

Coca-Cola Amatil is increasing wholesale prices in Australia to make up for part of the cost increases.

ABN Amro expects short covering to result in a bounce on Asian markets in coming weeks, and the broker advises investors to sell into it.

JP Morgan believes the market is overlooking the downside risk to Perpetual on the basis of lower margins ahead.

Expect another Fed rate hike in July, Morgan Stanley says, and possibly another one in September.

Gold down 7%, silver down 13%, copper down 7%. Is it Armageddon? Or just the weak, “hot” money scrambling to get out at any cost?

All major economies are facing an ageing problem, but China’s will be exacerbated by its One Child Policy introduced by the Communist regime in 1979. Balances will need to be struck.