Banks

Accusations against Goldman Sachs, a rise in jobless claims and a jump in inflation sent Wall Street down early before grafting back. Dow up 14.

Bank of Queensland has kicked off the bank reporting season, with Macquarie, ANZ, NAB and Westpac to follow. Analysts discuss what they’re looking for.

FNArena’s Sentiment Indicator doesn’t show National Australia Bank as the highest rated of the majors, but DJ Carmichael sees value at current levels.

Not mortgage securities again? Yes – but this time in the far less risky form of covered bonds, which will reduce the banks’ reliance on expensive offshore funding.

Brokers are impressed with ANZ’s strategy update and have been upgrading bank ratings in general given the recent market sell-off.

Analysts debate as to whether the Japanese earthquake is the last straw to force higher global catastrophe premiums, from which QBE would be a beneficiary.

Gaddafi ready to talk? It’s enough to see a fall in oil and thus, again, a refocus from Wall Street on what’s happening at home. Today at least. Dow up 124.

A review of the recent Australian banking sector results and subsequent analyst outlooks.

Fully valued with pockets of value. Such is Citi’s view on small miners in Australia. Small industrials have thus become the new focus.

A better than expected interim result from FlexiGroup suggests a recovery from the lows of the GFC and leaves brokers confident further upside is likely.