Daily FNArena News

Leighton Holdings largely matched expectations with its profit result but brokers are now evenly split on the company’s prospects.

While Chinese demand is strong it isn’t enough to cut into current stockpiles.

Weekly musings from your editor. Commodities in a bubble? Yes, they are. But this doesn’t mean another Armageddon lies around the corner.

Your editor discovered he was more bullish on what is happening in the share market than one of the market’s better known bulls.

Barclays Capital suggests the market may be too bearish on a slowdown in Chinese commodity demand in coming months and with other markets picking up it expects the uptrend to continue.

Most bank analysts have now switched their views towards more positive ratings in light of the rally, but CLSA’s Brian Johnson is maintaining an Underweight stance.

Healthcare IT group iSOFT’s US acquisition could be a beach-head into a market offering significant growth potential.

BHP Billiton exceeded market expectations with its profit result, but brokers maintain the shares are fairly valued.

The price of sugar may have soared to new multi-decade highs, it is still 70% below its peak from the mid-seventies.

The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Index of Consumer Sentiment rose again in August, suggesting consumers are increasingly of the view the worst of the downturn has now passed.