Daily FNArena News - Australia

Surviving real estate investment trusts are back in focus now the recovery is underway, but brokers are at odds over where potential value lies.

Post a briefing by Metcash management, stockbrokers remain skeptical due to an increase in value conscious consumers and tough market conditions.

Economic growth forecasts for Australia continue to rise. This may lead to more rate hikes, of course. Meanwhile, are investors overlooking the potential for agri stocks?

According to a new CommSec gauge of national economic performance Australians have never had it as good as today.

AWB has downgraded earnings guidance for FY10 and while market forecasts have been reduced accordingly some analysts don’t see the issues as a structural problem.

GSJB Were adds Pacific Brands to its Conviction List while Credit Suisse looks at mid-cap resource companies and JP Morgan looks at the WA housing market.

Coal prices are already being set a much higher levels, iron ore prices are set to see even greater increases and copper’s getting up there again too. Is it a resource sector bonanza for investors?

Faced with tougher competition in the Australian diagnostic imaging market and reduced government spending the growth potential of Sonic Health’s German operations assumes greater importance.

We are now in grind-up phase in the stock market while Asciano comes into favour, more media upgrades are occurring and the home builder survey continues.

Westpac-MI Leading Indicators suggest economic activity in Australia is accelerating.