Daily FNArena News - Australia

While interim earnings were broadly as expected a surprise capital raising by Kingsgate has prompted brokers to lower their ratings for the stock.

CSL delivered a strong interim profit result in constant currency terms and with further growth expected ratings for the stock have been upgraded.

Oil Search delivered a solid 2011 result and with 2012 a big year for exploration and progress at the PNG LNG project, equity brokers continue to see valuation upside.

Interim earnings were better than expected and the Barangaroo South project remains a likely catalyst, so equities brokers continue to rate Lend Lease as a Buy.

The RBA minutes reveal a board content with current settings but with room to move were global factors to dictate further action.

QR National’s interim earnings fell slightly short of expectations, but market debate is whether most of the outlook is already priced in today’s share price.

Brokers are seeing signs of a trough in global economic conditions, but an improving outlook for equities is still mostly limited to emerging markets.

RBS Australia has initiated coverage with a Buy rating on Alacer Gold, the broker seeing upside from the flagship Copler project in Turkey.

Interim earnings fell short of expectations but full year guidance was retained, a result from Primary Health Care that was met with mixed reactions from brokers.

Interim earnings fell a little short of expectations but SAI Global is still unanimously rated a Buy by security brokers in the FNArena database.