Daily FNArena News - Australia

Weaker economic conditions and increased competition look like hampering automotive and water product distributor GUD Holdings in the year ahead.

FNArena’s Monitor keeps track of corporate earnings result releases, including broker views, ratings and target price changes and beat/miss assessments.

Will iron ore prices peak soon? Several brokers ponder the outlook for Fortescue Metals, with the stock heavily leveraged to the fortunes of the commodity.

Western Areas is currently benefiting from a surge in the nickel price, although there are questions over whether the increase is sustainable in the short term.

Brokers are modelling an expanded production outlook for Saracen Mineral Holdings but concede the stock is already trading ahead of valuations.

Capital management will be the focus for brokers when South32 reports in August. The other catalyst, a sale of South Africa Energy Coal, is considered unlikely to be resolved at that stage.

A sharp downturn in June quarter production and revenue, while perhaps one-off, has caused brokers to question whether Woodside Petroleum’s timeline on growth projects is slipping.

As FY20 unfolds, falling global bond yields will produce headwinds for the general insurance sector while wealth managers could enjoy a short-term uplift to recurring revenue.

Oil Search is facing a nervous wait as the PNG government reviews the fiscal terms of the PNG LNG agreement.

Selling its life business was critical to rebuilding AMP and, with the RBNZ finding fault with the Resolution Life deal, the company’s problems are compounded.