Australian market analysts Fat Prophets believe that any problems Billabong will have in the near future are tied pretty directly to the sagging economy in the US, according to a story in the Courier Mail.

“Although the economic downturn in Australia will, in our view, prove comparatively light, that is not the case for the US,” the Fat Prophets report said. . . “This is likely to prove a significant headwind for the company in the months ahead, potentially extending into the 2010 calendar year.”

Other analysts agree and say the company could have similar problems in “Europe and Australasia in fiscal year 2010.”

[Link: Courier Mail]