Daily FNArena News

Weekly musings from your editor. I think it’s best to copy the RBA: gentle and cautious, while watching further developments is best.

RBS Australia is the latest to commence coverage on ATM supplier Customers, and to add one more Buy rating.

The potential default of Greece is one thing, but Spain’s is a much, much larger economy. Is Europe heading towards an uncontrollable contagion?

Australian retail sales numbers for December fell short of market expectations.

Just a few months ago market commentators were confident the worst was behind us, but there is growing caution as the reality of recovery sets in.

Both Macquarie and BA-Merrill Lynch have initiated coverage on Arrow Energy this week but with different views.

Last month President Obama made an uncharacteristically visceral attack on US banks, pledging to shake up the industry with extensive reforms, and thus sparking a Wall Street sell-off. What’s Wall Street’s problem? And how might it affect Australia?

The RBA surprised the market and kept the cash rate target at 3.75% leaving analysts and economists to scramble for explanations and new predictions.

ANZ has updated its views on the oil market for 2010, suggesting while prices may be range bound this month the trend through the year is likely to be one of higher prices.

The bottom line is that the RBA raised its cash rate an unprecedented three months in a row last year, and now it would like to let tightening take effect before making the next move.