The Australian share market ended the last day of the year slightly lower and was only slightly higher over the 2014 trading year. The benchmark index dipped 0.1 per cent today in a shortened trading session ahead of the New Years public holiday tomorrow. Over the year Australia’s benchmark rose 1.01 per cent following a gain of 15.1 per cent over 2013.
Figures
The S&P/ASX 200 lost 5.6 points on the last day of the year but added 59 points over 2014 to close at 5,411.
Today, the value of trades was $1.29 billion on volume of 264 million shares at the close of trade.
The top three stocks by value were BHP Billiton Limited
(ASX:BHP), National Australia Bank Limited
(ASX:NAB) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(ASX:CBA).
On the futures market the SPI is 5 points lower.
Bluechip gainers and losers in 2014
Qantas Airways Limited
(ASX:QAN) was one of the best performing bluechip stocks in 2014 with a gain of about 120 per cent. After booking an annual net loss of $2.84 billion Australia’s biggest airline credited its transformation program and lower fuel prices for a strong financial turnaround. Earlier this month Qantas forecast it will report its best first half result since 2010 in its upcoming interim accounts. Shares in Qantas Airways closed 0.41 lower today but have gained almost 120 per cent over 2014 to end the year at $2.40.
Shares in Santos Limited
(ASX:STO) struggled over 2014 and lost more than 40 per cent as the price of oil plunged. The oil and gas producer was this month hit with a ratings cut from Standard & Poor’s and also announced it will lower its capital expenditure by 25 per cent next year. Santos has also recently secured a bilateral bank loan facility which it says will provide a substantial buffer in the current uncertain oil price environment. Shares in Santos closed 0.61 higher today but have dropped more than 40 per cent over 2014 to end the year at $8.25.
Australia’s biggest company BHP Billiton Limited
(ASX:BHP) today extended losses of more than 22 per cent over the year to close at $29.37. The diversified miner was hurt by weaker commodity prices forcing it to lower capex, cut jobs and slash executive pay. BHP also this year revealed it will spin-off new company South32 in 2015.
Shares in rival miner Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO, LON:RIO) fared better over today and the year with a loss of about 14 per cent in 2014 to finish at $58.00. The global mining giant also faced commodity price stress and revealed it rejected a potential merger with Glencore PLC (LON:GLEN) in August.
Australia’s biggest bank Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(ASX:CBA) rose over today and climbed almost 11 per cent over the year to finish at $85.65. CBA posted the largest ever bank profit in the country in 2014, increasing 12 per cent from last year to $8.68 billion.
Westpac Banking Corporation
(ASX:WBC) dipped over today but lifted more than 3 per cent over the year to close at $33.16. The bank’s annual cash profit rose 8 per cent to $7.63 billion in fiscal 2014 and CEO Gail Kelly announced she would step down from February to be replaced by Brian Hartzer.
Best and worst performers
The best performing sector was energy, adding 0.4 per cent to close at 11,061.
The worst performing sector was real estate investment trusts, losing 2.2 per cent to close at 1,186 points.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ASX 200 was Lynas Corporation Limited
(ASX:LYC), jumping 13.33 per cent to close at $0.07. Shares in Arrium Limited
(ASX:ARI) and Atlas Iron Limited
(ASX:AGO) also closed stronger.
The worst performing stock was Abacus Property Group
(ASX:ABP), dropping 3.26 per cent to close at $2.97. Shares in Scentre Group Limited
(ASX:SCG) and Whitehaven Coal Limited
(ASX:WHC) also closed lower.
Commodities
Gold is trading at $US1,202 an ounce.
Light crude is $0.51 higher at $US54.12 a barrel.
Currencies
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.8207.
