From
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...76-664,00.html

TELSTRA shares have emerged as the darling of the market, attracting the nod
of approval from brokers and telecommunications analysts.

The company has received favourable news on the regulatory front this year
and emerged from a dramatic mid-2006 price slump to be the flavour of the
month.

Merrill Lynch analysts yesterday stamped their approval on Telstra with a
"buy" recommendation, together with a $4.90 one-year price objective.

The company's shares rose 1.3 per cent, or 6, to $4.62 yesterday.

"It is now time to buy," the analysts said. "Our 12 month price objective of
$4.90 implying total returns of 14 per cent."

The news came after more than 320,000 Telstra instalment receipt holders
this week received a letter asking for final payment of $1.60 a share -
totalling around $6.5 billion - for their T3 investment.

The T3 shares will cease trading on May 29, and will then be switched over
as normal "fully paid" Telstra shares.

T3 holders have for 18 months enjoyed Telstra's full 28 a share dividend,
having only paid 55 per cent of the full subscription price.

Analysts say the T3 shares could weaken in coming weeks ahead of the
deadline.

"Any short-term price weakness around the T3 instalment payment at end-May
should be considered a good buying opportunity," said the Merrill Lynch
analysts.

Telstra has a more positive earnings outlook, with its guidance likely to
improve, and there's a real prospect of enhanced dividends, they said.