Building Material & Const

Brokers argue the market has unnecessarily de-rated Lend Lease, the past month and following yesterday’s company update.

Insurers are homing in on commercial clients, banks are looking at construction again and ASX is eyeing off the funds management sector.

Australia’s major bank valuations may be about to unwind, while asset quality is improving. Small cap engineers are holding up, small retailers will be affected by discounting and residential building is showing positive signs.

Luxury brand stores and competitive foreign labels are challenging Australia’s retailers, while construction activity falls and coal exports look set to rise in the June quarter.

CSR has weathered FY13, just. Brokers like the low debt levels but find the company hamstrung by soft housing. Then there’s Viridian.

A number of brokers have taken a look at Infrastructure and Utilities stocks over the past few weeks in a move to guide their customers to yield.

Adelaide Brighton used a site tour to herald flat earnings for FY13. Brokers weigh up the positives and negatives.

Economists ask if there’s room to cut the RBA cash rate again as the Australian economy looks like hitting a soft patch and the housing recovery is patchy.

Analysts look at just which Australian stocks are best placed as consumer appetites grow and housing recovers.

Economists, analysts and brokers agree, 2013 is shaping up as a “modest” year for growth in Australia.