0357 GMT - Australian mall owner Scentre could be benefiting from tailwinds similar to those it enjoyed the last time its stock traded at a strong premium, its bulls at Morgan Stanley reckon. MS analysts tell clients in a note that, when Scentre's equity was valued at between 1.25 and 1.5 times its net tangible assets in 2015-17, the company was benefiting from factors including falling interest rates and strong demand from expanding international retailers. They point out that rates are widely expected to fall again and that demand is again strong, this time due to a lack of incremental new capacity. MS lifts its target price by 2.1% to A$4.44 and keeps an overweight rating on the stock, which is down 0.95% at A$3.635. ([email protected])

0326 GMT - Bell Potter analyst Marcus Barnard struggles to see how Platinum Asset Management can deliver more value to shareholders than Regal Partners' now-withdrawn A$1.30-a-share proposal. Barnard writes in a note to clients that he would not be surprised, based on Platinum's latest update, to find that the hedge-fund sponsor's sales have been lower than normal. Writing before Regal confirmed its proposal was no longer on the table, he notes that November was a bad month for Platinum. Its turnaround strategy is uncertain, long-term and difficult to quantify, he adds. Bell Potter downgrades its recommendation to sell from hold, cutting its target price by 39% to A$0.74. Shares are down 16% at A$0.8825. ([email protected])

0313 GMT - Morgan Stanley analysts stay bullish on Tuas after the Singaporean mobile-network operator beat their first-quarter margin expectations. They tell clients in a note that the Australia-listed company's 46% first-quarter Ebitda margin implies annualized earnings of S$64.4 million. They had forecast a full-year margin of 40.3%, lifting it to 43.3% following the trading update. Tuas still has a long growth runway as it expands into new product and customer segments, they add. MS stays overweight on the stock and lifts its target price by 22% to A$6.70. Shares are up 7.1% at A$6.51. ([email protected])

0245 GMT - Platinum Asset Management's continued outflows probably prompted Regal Partners to call off its proposed takeover, E&P analyst Olivier Coulon says. He tells clients in a note that Regal's ability to make a transaction value accretive rested on the level at which Platinum could stabilize its funds under management. He points out that Platinum's funds under management declined 10% in November. Regal hasn't explained why it is walking away, but Coulon suggests that Platinum's negative relative performance may have hit management's confidence in the potential benefits of combining the hedge-fund sponsors. ([email protected])

0053 GMT - ANZ's appointment of an outsider as its new CEO is cheered by UBS analyst John Storey as likely to bring a fresh perspective to the Australian bank. Storey reckons that former HSBC executive Nuno Matos will have a clean slate to make what he sees as necessary changes to the lender's operating model, and to introduce new ideas. He will need time to familiarize himself with the local banking landscape, and to establish his executive team, Storey adds. Then he needs to look at ANZ's organizational and operating structure, and tackle strategic priorities including the integration of the recently acquired Suncorp Bank. UBS has a neutral rating and A$34.00 target price on ANZ shares, which are down 2.8% at A$30.27. ([email protected])

0050 GMT - Titomic's demonstration of strong commercial momentum with high-profile customers including Airbus, Boeing, and France's navy help secure a new bull for the Australian additive-manufacturing company. Shaw & Partners analyst Abraham Akra initiates coverage of the stock with a buy rating, citing the value of Titomic's manufacturing certifications in expanding its reach into aerospace and defense markets. Its diverse revenue streams across machine sales, consumables and service contracts stabilize income and promote deeper customer engagement and retention, he writes in a note. Shaw places a A$0.30 target price on the stock, which is down 1.4% at A$0.1775. ([email protected])

0040 GMT - Woolworths's resolution of workers' industrial action with a reasonable pay agreement is seen as positive by E&P analyst Phillip Kimber. He tells clients in a note that the 11% pay rise that the Australian supermarket giant has agreed to implement over three years is within his expectation of 4% annual growth. He is waiting on Woolworths's full summary of the strike impact before updating his forecasts for the one-off sales and earnings hit. Shares are up 0.7% at A$30.12. ([email protected])

0038 GMT - U.S. efforts to re-shore industrial capabilities and bolster supply-chain resilience help secure a new bull for Australian 3D printer AML3D. Shaw & Partners analyst Abraham Akra initiates coverage of the stock with a buy rating, telling clients in a note that AML3D's blue-chip client base and position with U.S. Navy supply chains are particularly exciting. Akra says that Europe looks like AML3D's next growth market after the U.S., while the company's shift to a recurring-revenue model enables larger contracts, stable revenues and predictability. Shaw & Partners places a A$0.40 target price on the stock, which is up 2.4% at A$0.215. ([email protected])

0000 GMT - Iluka's agreement with Australia on extra funding for the Eneabba rare earths refinery has given investors some clarity on the project's financing and economics, "but significant uncertainties remain," says Citi analyst Paul McTaggart. "While the Australian government's increased funding support demonstrates commitment, we remain skeptical about the refinery generating an attractive NPV given Citi rare-earth pricing assumptions," McTaggart says. He reckons there needs to be a substantial improvement in rare earths prices or the creation of an ex-China rare earths market to make the refinery a worthwhile investment. That said, the 10% selloff in Iluka's stock Friday does make Iluka's risk-reward more attractive, McTaggart says. Citi adds a high-risk rating to its buy call and cuts its target to A$6.10 from A$7.00. Iluka is up 0.2% at A$4.94. ([email protected]; @RhiannonHoyle)

(END) Dow Jones Newswires