0322 GMT - Scentre's bull at Citi reiterates a buy call on the company amid Australian news reports that the shopping mall operator is about to sell a stake in one of its prime Sydney locations. Analyst Howard Penny says that such a transaction would fit neatly within the group's strategy of using strategic partnerships to release capital for redeployment into more accretive opportunities. Scentre could buy back subordinated notes or invest in new retail or residential opportunities, Penny adds. Citi has a A$4.60 target price on the stock, which is up 3.6% at A$4.145. ([email protected])

0144 GMT - Flight Centre's bulls at Jefferies like the look of the Australian travel agency's latest acquisition. Analysts Michael Simotas and Naveed Fazel Bawa think that the purchase of U.K. cruise agency Iglu is reasonably priced at an initial A$200 million, and see value in Flight Centre's expansion into the high-margin and growing cruise industry. They point out in a note to clients that Iglu's FY25 3.1% Ebitda margin will be accretive to Flight Centre's earnings. Additionally, they see Flight Centre gaining share of the business travel market due to ongoing issues at Corporate Travel Management. Jefferies raises its target price 11% to A$15.50 and keeps a buy rating on the stock, which is up 5.4% at A$14.72. ([email protected])

0105 GMT - REA Group's domestic listings volumes could be further hit by the potential for interest-rate hikes, Citi analyst Siraj Ahmed warns. The News Corp-controlled property advertiser's new listings are down by 6% so far in its FY 2026, although the rate of decline was 4% in November. Ahmed observes that year-earlier comparisons become easier over coming months, but cautions that the rate outlook could hit market activity. The Reserve Bank of Australia this week held the country's cash rate and signaled that the next move could be up. Citi has a neutral rating and A$279.25 target price on the stock, which is down 0.9% at A$188.96. News Corp is the parent company of Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires. ([email protected])

0044 GMT - Goodman Group's bull at Citi flags investor expectation that the Australian real-estate developer will announce either a capital partnership or data-center lease, or both, over the next few months. Analyst Howard Penny points to a poll of Citi platform users that suggested more than half expect some kind of catalyst before the end of Goodman'sFY 2026. This chimes with Penny's outlook, which includes potential for news by the time of February's 1H result announcement. He observes that the stock is trading at about 22 times earnings, compared with recent highs of about 29 times earnings. Citi has a buy rating and A$40.00 target price on the stock, which is up 2.15% at A$29.92. ([email protected])

0030 GMT - Insurance Australia Group's bull at Citi thinks that its acquisition of RACI could still proceed, but at least a year later than previously planned. With Australia's competition regulator having blocked the acquisition, analyst Nigel Pittaway says that IAG's renewed application under fresh takeover rules will need to be rejected before the ASX-listed insurer can ask for an assessment on the grounds of public benefit. This could ultimately succeed, but the complex process delays an outcome by about 12 months, he says. The outcome is uncertain, Pittaway adds. Citi has a buy rating and A$10.00 target price on the stock, which is down 0.3% at A$7.815. ([email protected])

2252 GMT - Guzman Y Gomez's bull at Morgans shows a healthy appetite for the Australian fast-food operator's low-cost menu innovation. Discussing positive feedback on the company's new chicken product, analyst Keeley Walsh points out that the item is compiled from existing kitchen ingredients. This means restaurants don't face additional costs or complexity to supply it. She tells clients in a note that the item, which appears to have been well received by customers, represents a margin-friendly innovation that aligns with GYG's operational discipline. Morgans keeps a buy rating and A$32.30 target price on the stock, which is at A$21.21 ahead of the open. ([email protected])

2249 GMT - Abacus Storage King remains an attractive takeover target amid continued international interest in Australian self-storage assets, Citi analyst Howard Penny says. He tells clients in a note that ASK is trading at roughly a 14% discount to its net tangible assets, offering any suitor headroom to come up with a price attractive to shareholders. Penny also thinks that ASK and former owner Abacus Group could be looking to internalize management, which would simplify ASK's structure and make it more attractive to potential acquirers. Citi has a neutral rating and A$1.50 target price on the stock, which is at A$1.495 ahead of the open. ([email protected])

(END) Dow Jones Newswires