5 days ago, source: FN Arena

By Chris Shaw It has been a tough past month or so for fund manager Perpetual , as on the estimates of UBS and RBS Australia the stock has underperformed the broader market in that period by between 14-16% and by a similar amount over the past quarter. This underperformance has meant the relative value on offer in the stock has improved, so both UBS and RBS have this morning upgraded to Neutral ratings from Sell or Underperform previously.  This implies a slight improvement in the overall rating of Perpetual on the market, as the FNArena database now shows seven Holds and just three Sells, up from a 5-5 split previously. There have been no accompanying changes to earnings forecasts as UBS suggests the company will lack much in the way of earnings leverage until at least FY11.

5 days ago, source: FN Arena

 By Greg Peel The Dow rose 136 points or 1.3% while the S&P jumped 1.4% to 1109 and the Nasdaq also added 1.4%. The mood began positively on Wall Street last night following strong gains in Asia in response to the Japanese third quarter GDP.

5 days ago, source: FN Arena

Deutsche Bank rates as Sell - The FY09 result beat the broker and FY10-11 earnings estimates are upgraded 4-11% on the back of higher DAP sales volumes and lower net interest expenses.

6 days ago, source: FN Arena

By Chris Shaw The Australian economy has performed well enough in recent months to justify Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) moves to lift official interest rates but it hasn't been enough to stop consumers from taking a cautious attitude into the upcoming Christmas season. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment survey for November, released last week, included additional questions regarding expectations with respect to spending on gifts this year compared to last year, with just under 35% of those responding indicating they would spend less on Christmas presents this year compared to 2008.

6 days ago, source: FN Arena

  By Chris Shaw Last year the market was concerned Chinese growth would struggle to reach 8.0% in 2009 but as at the end of September year-to-date growth was 7.7% and strengthening.

6 days ago, source: FN Arena

By Andrew Nelson It is becoming increasingly accepted that China, one of Australia's most important trading partners, has put the GFC behind it, with the economy now expanding at a solid pace.

6 days ago, source: FN Arena

(This story was originally published on Wednesday, November 11.

6 days ago, source: FN Arena

Deutsche Bank rates as Buy - charge has announced the 1Q10 results for associates CDC and CityFleet UK.

8 days ago, source: FN Arena

By Andrew Nelson The Dow finished 73 points or 0.7% higher, while the S&P 500 advanced 0.57% to 1093 (below the high) and the Nasdaq advanced 0.88%. What was a fairly mixed bag of economic news didn't stop investors buying up the shares of companies that were beaten down a bit yesterday and cementing in another positive week.

9 days ago, source: FN Arena

The weakness in spot uranium prices might have slowed, as indicated by industry consultant TradeTech earlier this week, but this does not necessarily mean spot U3O8 has found a bottom yet.

9 days ago, source: FN Arena

By Chris Shaw While some in the market are now forecasting unemployment in the US could hit as high a 12-13% (see US Unemployment Will Get Much Worse, FNArena, 12/11/09) Morgan Stanley continues to take the view the recession in the US labour market will soon be over. This would be not a moment too soon given unemployment in October was 10.2%, the highest rate since early in 1983, but according to Morgan Stanley the current state of the labour market is nothing more than cyclical weakness, an exaggeration of the traditional early stake surge in productivity that characterises the beginning of every period of expansion.

9 days ago, source: FN Arena

By Greg Peel The Dow fell 96 points or 0.9% while the S&P fell 1.1% to 1087 - failing to consolidate a new high - and the Nasdaq dropped 0.9%. It's been a great party, but the numbers have thinned and the host is looking tired so maybe it would be polite not to overstay one's welcome any longer.

9 days ago, source: FN Arena

Macquarie rates as Outperform - Guidance was reiterated and everything else was generally positive at the Westfield update yesterday.

10 days ago, source: FN Arena

By Andrew Nelson For months we've been hearing that the neighbourhood of 10% would be the US unemployment peak and once employment in the world's biggest economy turned, we'd all be able to get on with business of a sustained recovery.

10 days ago, source: FN Arena

Following on from earlier surveys (see "Oz Consumer Confidence More Sensitive To RBA Hikes") it would appear the Australian consumer is turning a little less exuberant about the economic prospects in the months ahead.