Australia's REA Group dips, Citi says listing decline forecasts appear optimistic
** Shares of Australian property listing firm REA Group REA.AX fall 1.8% to A$156.37, set for their worst day since September 9
** Citi notes new listings were down 2% in August compared with a year earlier
** Brokerage views REA's forecast of "flat to low single digit" FY27 volume decline as optimistic, projecting a 5% Y/Y decline, below VA consensus estimate of a 3% drop
** Citi says first-quarter-to-date listings declines were tracking its forecast, though its estimates assume the pace of decline to accelerate later in the year, as further interest-rate hikes weigh on activity and due to comparisons with stronger year-ago period performance
** Stock down 14.7% YTD