Quick Australian Stock Tips

A compilation of updates by brokers:
Rio Tinto (RIO) has a Buy 2 rating by UBS with a share price target of $100. Rio Tinto released a bumper report that was a surprise for investors on Thursday: An interim profit of $3,751 million, up 80 percent. UBS values the company at $80.19 based on 10 percent d.r. Meanwhile, Citigroup Investment Research has maintained their Buy, Medium Risk (1M) rating for the company with the same share price target of A$100 or £42 in its dual listing in England. The report was 5 percent higher than the analysts' estimates. For Macquarie Research Equities they have reiterated their outperform rating and gave a 12 month share price target of $94.20. The analyst notes that Rio Tinto is the preferred exposure through the commodities cycle.

Alumina (AWC) is also rated highly by UBS, which gives the stock a Buy 2 rating with a share price target of $8.70 and a valuation of $8.68 based on DCF, 10 percent d.r. and observes that their interim profit of $302 million is in line with forecasts.

UBS have rated the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) aka "Commbank" with a Neutral 1 recommendation with a share price target of $43.50. The market is surely awaiting their result to be releast next Wednesday on the 9th of August. Macquarie Research Equities notes that the Bank is their second pick of the sector and has a 12 month share price target of $46.50.

Suncorp-Metway (SUN) has been given a Neutral 2 (unchanged) rating by UBS with a share price target of $20.20.

Multiplex (MXG) has had its woes like Wembley and White City. UBS rates the stock as Reduce 2 with a share price target of $3.23.

Westpac Banking Corporation (WBC) is a Neutral 2 recommendation from UBS with a share price target of $23.50.

Jubilee Mines (JBM) is viewed favourably by Macquarie Research Equities with the company being the preferred Nickel exposure. The analyst maintains an Outperform recommendation with a share price target of $10.

Lihir Gold (LHG) has an Outperform rating from Macquarie Research Equities with a $4.40 12-month price target. While, Citigroup Investment Research retains their Buy High Risk recommendation on the commodities stock. However, the analyst lowered their share price target from $3.79 to $3.70.

Aristocrat Leisure (ALL) was rated with a Buy, Medium Risk by Citigroup Investment Research with a share price target of $13.80 and a valuation of $13.93.

Macquarie Research Equities have retained their Outperform recommendations on Dyno Nobel (DXL) with a $2.72 share price target and Orica (ORI) with a $26.50 share price target.

Telstra (TLS), Australia’s largest telecommunications company, is due to report its FY06 result next week, on the 10 August. Macquarie Research Equities have retained their Neutral recommendation and $3.85 price target.

Citigroup Investment Research have retained their rating of Buy, Medium risk call and A$6.70 target price for the AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd stock.

Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) Limited stock had its recommendation downgraded by SB to Hold from Buy, Medium Risk with a share price target of $35.76 (was $34.98).

Macquarie has downgraded their recommendation for the Agincourt Resources (AGC) stock to Neutral with a share price target of $1.60.

ABN Amro has rated the Australia & New Zealand (ANZ) Banking Group stock as Hold with a share price target falling to $27.67 (was $29.00). Valuation has also fallen to $27.67 from $29.00.