Daily FNArena News - Australia

UBS is the only broker to rate Cochlear a Buy in the FNArena database and it sees upside risk to its forecasts from additional sales in China.

There is an embarassing stand-off going on in Australia’s defence industry at present, but WA junior Quickstep may emerge as a unique victor.

BHP Billiton broadly matched expectations with its quarterly production report but analysts remain divided over the relative value on offer in the stock.

Australian CPI data largely matched market expectations in the June quarter, suggesting interest rates are likely to remain on hold.

Transpacific Industries may have addressed its immediate debt concerns but brokers remain cautious on the stock.

Morgan Stanley believes OZ Minerals could underperform leading into its interim earnings result next month.

ERA has advised interim earnings will be far better than the market had expected.

The minutes of this month’s RBA meeting suggest the board is now less tentative about economic recovery.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch estimates the North American ammonium nitrate market has an oversupply situation that could last for some time, which would put pressure on Orica’s earnings.

Serial bank bear RBS believes regional banks may now have seen the worst of margin compression, resulting in an upgrade for Bank of Queensland.