0115 GMT - Canaccord Genuity says an expansion of Liontown Resources' Kathleen Valley lithium mine could happen sooner than it thought. Liontown says it's reassessing an expansion to 4 million tons of ore per year, citing positive market conditions. Canaccord expects the lithium market to be in deficit from 2027, and higher prices should support the investment case. Canaccord had modeled the expansion from 2030. It now assumes a staged expansion from 2H 2027. This sees annual production increase to 595,000 tons of spodumene concentrate, before a further uplift to 700,000 tons from 2030. "We assume total capex at A$490 million with firm estimates and timing subject to study outcomes and final investment decision," analyst Reg Spencer says. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0105 GMT - There are reasons to be positive about rubber products maker Ansell ahead of its 1H result, signals UBS. Outgoing CEO Neil Salmon is leaving the business in a strong position, having led efforts to boost productivity, analyst David Low says. Ansell completed the purchase of Kimberly-Clark's personal protective equipment business during his tenure. Price increases to offset U.S. tariffs have been effective, and another round is coming, UBS says. Still, the bank retains a hold call on Ansell. "Despite these positives, the recent changes in both the CEO and CFO roles introduce an element of uncertainty," UBS says. "We look forward to gaining greater clarity on the new leadership team's strategic priorities and long-term vision for the business." Ansell is down 0.3% at A$33.28. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0047 GMT - Whitehaven Coal's bears at UBS see limited upside to prices of metallurgical coal, used in steelmaking. UBS expects prices to average US$235/ton this year. They will be underpinned by weather-related disruptions in Australia, heightened supply concerns in China, and robust demand from India and China. It assumes prices peak at around US$250/ton, close to current spot levels. They should then gradually decline as weather-related disruptions subside. "With spot approximately at peak UBS estimates, we see limited upside price catalysts outside of additional market-tightening events," analyst Lachlan Shaw says. UBS retains a sell call on Whitehaven, citing an enterprise value-to-Ebitda multiple that is ahead of international competitors. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0037 GMT - CapitaLand Ascott Trust is likely to pursue more acquisitions this year, says Citi analyst Brandon Lee in a note. The trust only announced S$0.2 billion worth of asset purchases last year, compared with its five-year average of around S$0.5 billion, he says. The hospitality-focused trust's gearing stands at 37.7%, which implies S$0.3 billion of debt headroom, he says. It also aims to allocate 25%-30% of its portfolio to the living sector, he adds, noting this segment only contributed around 14% of 2025 gross profit. Citi maintains its buy rating and S$1.02 target price, citing CapitaLand Ascott's attractive 2026 yield of 6.5%. Units last closed flat at S$0.965. ([email protected])

0027 GMT - Viva Energy's lack of earnings guidance for 2025 disappointed the market but it probably suggests Ebitda won't stray too far from consensus expectations, Jefferies says. It's unusual for Viva Energy not to provide the guidance, says analyst Michael Simotas. It stands in contrast to Australian rival Ampol, which issued guidance this week that met market hopes. "Based on what was released, refining looks weaker than expected," Jefferies says. Viva Energy's convenience and mobility unit and its commercial and industrial business together appear roughly in line, the bank adds. Jefferies cuts forecasts for Ebitda and net profit in 2025 by 3% and 6%, respectively. Its price target falls 11% to A$2.00/share. Viva Energy is down 4.5% at A$1.79. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2347 GMT - Imaging-tech provider Pro Medicus has underperformed Australia's benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index so far this year. For investors, that offers an attractive setup ahead of its 1H result next month, MS says. It points to record contract implementations by Pro Medicus and stable demand. At the same time, estimates are conservative and AI concerns are overstated, analyst Chris Boulus says. MS forecasts 1H revenue growth of 36% on year and an Ebitda margin of 77%. MS retains an overweight call and A$350.00/share price target on Pro Medicus, which is down 0.4% at A$181.00. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2340 GMT - Morgan Stanley is more bullish about wealth manager AMP's flows trajectory. It upgrades forecasts for group net flows in FY 2026 by 25% to A$6.0 billion. That reflects data showing its AMP North platform offering a strong combination of features versus fees. "We also see an almost 80% year-over-year step up in dividend in FY 2026 as payout lifts to 55%, placing us 30% ahead of consensus," says analyst Andrei Stadnik. MS retains an overweight call and lifts its price target by 4.8% to A$2.20/share. AMP is up 0.6% at A$1.655. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

2332 GMT - Real-estate advertiser REA's 1H result on Feb. 6 could lead to more volatility in its share price than usual, says Morgan Stanley. Investors are seeking an update on the competitive impact of CoStar's US$1.92 billion takeover of Australian rival Domain. They also want to assess how AI could affect future earnings growth, analyst Andrew McLeod says. REA's result will also be the first presented by new CEO Cameron McIntyre. Investors will be alert to any change in strategy and perspective. MS expects REA to report 1H revenue growth of 7-8% and an Ebitda margin in the 70-71% range. It also expects expenditure on research and development to be stable. MS keeps an overweight call and A$290.00/share price target on REA, which is up 1.2% at A$191.29 today. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0852 GMT - Glencore and the copper markets have hit their stride at precisely the right time and will no doubt help the miner's conversations with Rio Tinto, RBC Capital Markets analysts say in a note. Although 4Q copper production fell, it still beat consensus expectations by 3%, which is something of a rarity and a key focus of its results, RBC says. Shares rise 3.4% at 523 pence and are up 51% over the past 12 months. ([email protected])

(END) Dow Jones Newswires