Australian Shares Recommendations

Wesfarmers (WES) has a reiterated Buy stock and a medium risk rating from Australian stockmarket analysts from Citi.

Wesfarmers Ltd (WES): Coal Business Windfall

Coal price soars — Wesfarmers has finalised its Curragh coal contract prices for the Japanese 2008 Fiscal Year. The company has indicated metallurgical coal prices are up almost 230%. We have a 227% increase embedded within our financial forecasts. However, the consensus increase is only 205%, suggesting upgrades to consensus earnings.

Here are the Macquarie Research Equities (MRE) todays updates about the equity market return forecasts for the coming year.

Equity Market Outlook- Where to find the best returns

Macquarie Research Equities (MRE) has today updated their equity market return forecasts for the coming year, and the results show a continuation of a strengthening trend away from industrials and into resources. The MRE model is now forecasting a total shareholder return for the S&P/ASX 200 of +4.5%. This return is broken up into a capital return of 0.1% and a dividend yield of 4.4%.

Here are the Macquarie Research Equities (MRE) highlights for some of the recent impacts experienced by the Australian Banking Sector.

Banking Sector – Westpac Banking (WBC) Looks to Slay the Dragon

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Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) has a neutral stock recommendation with a 12 month price target of $24.38 from sharemarket analyst Macquarie Research Equities.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) – Wing Lung Deal and a Prayer?!

Here is a update on Macquarie Group from Australian market analyst UBS.

Macquarie Group Ltd: Solid FY08e Result Expected, All Eyes on FY09e CommentaryMQG

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AMP (AMP) remained MRE’s preferred low risk, large cap wealth management exposure from Australian stockmarket analysts from Citi.

AMP (AMP): A Super Chance to Buy for Growth

CSR has a maintained Hold / Medium Risk recommendation from Australian stockmarket analyst Macquarie Research Equities.

CSR Ltd: Building Products Surprise, Sugar Disappoints

Result Ahead — CSR's underlying result of $192.8m was ahead of our $181.0m estimate. The main areas of difference were a stronger-than-expected result in the property division and a weak result in sugar.

MRE has maintained it’s outperform on the stock with a 35% potential upside over the next 12 months.

Can Telecommunications be Sexy with Large Returns?

MRE has retained it’s outperform recommendation for CAB with a $11.05 price target, with the suggested upside of over 20%.

Cabcharge Australia (CAB) – Taxi!!

Cabcharge Australia Limited (CAB) has reported on the performance of its non-core investments, a 49% stake in Westbus, which accounts for around 11% of NPAT and a 33% stake in Cityfleet (UK), which accounts for around 3-4% of NPAT. Today, Macquarie Research Equities (MRE) reviews these results and the expected performance of CAB in the near term.

Insurance Australia Group Limited (IAG) has signed an agreement with State Bank of India (SBI) from sharemarket analyst Macquarie Research Equities.

Insurance Australia Group (IAG) a step closer to India

Event: Signs agreement with State Bank of India: