0457 GMT - Seek keeps its bull at Bell Potter despite softer job ad volumes. Analyst Michael Ardrey acknowledges the potential that the Reserve Bank of Australia may raise interest-rates again, which would be a further headwind for jobs growth. However, he notes some commentary from economists that soft recent data could mean that the cash rate has peaked at its current 4.35%. While offering no commentary on the likely path for rates, Ardrey tells clients in a note that employment-marketplace operator Seek is his preferred rate-sensitive exposure among Australian classifieds. He keeps a buy rating on the stock but lowers his target price by 22% to 18.60 Australian dollars on moderated earnings forecasts. Shares are up 1.6% at A$13.895. ([email protected])

0451 GMT - The near-term headwinds facing Cochlear are likely to keep overshadowing the hearing-technology maker's longer-term opportunity, UBS analysts warn. They tell clients in a note that the Middle East conflict remains the key swing factor given the risks around order delays and sovereign collections. The analysts say this has already meant that the Australian company's net profit guidance range is wide for how late in the fiscal year it is. They expect management to give a wide guidance range for the next fiscal year, which would allow room at the bottom end for already challenging conditions to worsen. UBS keeps a neutral rating on the stock and cuts its target price 2.8% to 106.00 Australian dollars. Shares are flat at A$103.75. ([email protected])

0431 GMT - Takeover target Accent should be given time to show it can execute on its current strategy, Citi analyst Sam Teeger reckons. Suitor Frasers says it wants Accent to conduct a strategic and financial review, but Teeger points out it was only last month that the Australian apparel retailer announced plans to generate up to A$20 million in net cost savings by fiscal 2028. Accent also flagged plans to optimize its store portfolio, he adds. Teeger tells clients in a note that it seems harsh for Frasers to pin Accent's challenges on its chairman given he was only appointed in November. Citi has a neutral rating on the stock and raises its target price 14% to 65 Australian cents, in line with Frasers' offer. Shares are up 15% at 74.5 Australian cents. ([email protected])

0210 GMT - Morgan Stanley says headwinds to Stockland's FY27 residential settlements are intensifying, leading it to examine what options the Australian property company has to shore up earnings. Residential demand has been dented by interest-rate rises in Australia and changes to tax incentives. Analyst Lauren A. Berry notes prior slowdowns have seen Stockland fill the earnings void with land selldowns, JV profits, and non-residential items. MS estimates Stockland has up to 1 billion Australian dollars of non-residential profits potentially coming to fruition through 2032 from three major sources, including data centers. "But we think FY27 may be too early for any major profits out of those three buckets," MS says. "If a plug were to come, it would have to be via some one-off land sales." ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0116 GMT - Accent's share price rises 9.2% to A$0.71 after the Australian retailer became a takeover target of Frasers Group, its largest shareholder. RBC Capital Markets says the structure of Frasers's A$0.65/share offer to acquire all shares in Accent that it doesn't own is unlikely to appeal. Accent's stock ended last week at A$0.65. "By offering a nil-premium takeover, none of the upside of any potential turnaround would be realized by shareholders," analyst Jackie Moody says. RBC thinks Frasers will need to offer a premium to get a deal done. It expects Accent to advise shareholders to reject the approach. ([email protected]; @dwinningWSJ)

0109 GMT - Sigma Healthcare's brief engagement with Boots likely yielded information valuable to its U.K. expansion plans, Citi analysts say. Having held preliminary talks over a potential acquisition of Boots, the Australian pharmacy chain operator probably has more detail on the U.K. market and its biggest player, they say. This is relevant since it recently announced plans to roll out its Chemist Warehouse brand in the U.K. The Citi analysts suggest Sigma also knows more about how investors would react to the purchase of a large incumbent player in a new market. They have an unchanged neutral rating on Sigma's stock and a target price of 3.20 Australian dollars. Shares are up 7.4% at A$2.835. ([email protected])

(END) Dow Jones Newswires