Daily FNArena News - Australia

Wesfarmers has announced material downgrades to expectations from its Bunnings UK & Ireland division, with several brokers suggesting the risk is growing for an exit from the UK.

Several factors have combined to make January the worst month in six for returns from A-REITs. Yet several brokers suggest there is value in individual stocks.

Brokers have welcomed the substantial improvement in James Hardie’s earnings in the December quarter, amid increased activity in the US and a continuation of the strong Australian residential cycle.

Viva Energy REIT has a property portfolio of service stations in Australia offering fixed income growth. Ord Minnett initiates coverage of the stock.

Following yet another weak inflation result, is an RBA rate hike in 2018 even a remote possibility?

GUD Holdings posted a robust first half and brokers are largely positive on the outlook, which remains heavily premised on further automotive acquisitions.

All business divisions at Credit Corp performed strongly in the first half. Brokers diverge as to whether the positive outlook is fully priced into the stock.

Despite increased discounts for its iron ore product in the December quarter, Fortescue Metals maintains FY18 guidance.

Australia’s dominant ‘buy now, pay later’ success story is leveraging its first-mover advantage to target the US, an ecommerce opportunity worth 20 times the local market.

Iluka Resources maintained strong output of mineral sands in the December quarter while brokers flag substantial price increases for both zircon and rutile over 2018.