Daily FNArena News - Australia

Macro prudential measures appear to be the way forward in targeting housing credit, although brokers observe there are few signs as yet that housing loan growth has slowed.

Outdoor advertising is eclipsing TV these days and with the digitising of billboards, companies in this sector are increasingly attracting broker scrutiny.

OceanaGold has hit a few bumps at its Haile project and reduced production estimates for 2017. Brokers are not overly concerned as prospects elsewhere should mitigate the downgrade.

REA Group has expanded its real estate financial services to include mortgage products via a traditional broking channel. Brokers suggest accretion is minimal at this stage.

Link Administration will acquire Capita Asset Services in the UK. A large equity raising is involved but brokers suggest the accretion to earnings justifies the risk.

Supermarket and hardware business Metcash delivered cash flow and cost reductions ahead of expectations in FY17. Nevertheless, brokers suggest structural challenges remain daunting.

Sales momentum has failed to hold up recently at Ardent Leisure’s Main Event business and brokers are increasingly wary about FY18.

An emerging debate among brokers regarding Caltex explores the trends in premium fuel consumption.

QBE has downgraded its expected returns from emerging markets in 2017, leaving brokers are divided about the outlook.

BIS Oxford Economics suggests house price growth will slow or decline in some areas in the next couple of years, although a crash is not expected.