Aussie shares are slightly higher at midday, with the top miners like BHP and Rio Tinto leading the gains on a rise in commodity prices.
The S&P/ASX200 index is 6 points higher at 3,769 and on the futures market the SPI 200’s down 4 points.
To business news at midday: Engineering designs and project services company WorleyParsons Ltd (ASX:WOR) has been appointed Project Management Study Contractor to the Oakajee Port and Rail Project owned by Murchison Metals and Mitsubishi Development. Oakajee Port and Rail says WorleyParsons will conduct the budget and engineering study for the Oakajee Port and Rail’s Bankable Feasibility Study. WorleyParsons responsibilities will include management of design and engineering, capital and operating estimating for the deepwater port and associated heavy haulage rail network. WorleyParsons shares rose 0.48 per cent to $21.05.
Toll road operator Transurban Group (ASX:TCL) says toll revenue in the June quarter rose to $195.5 million a rise of 5.1 per cent from the March quarter. For the year to June 30 toll revenue rose 7.5 per cent to $778.7 million. Transurban says the June quarter result was impacted by a shift in the timing of Easter this year from March in 2008 to April in 2009 which resulted in an one less workday in the June quarter accounting for an estimated 1.3 per cent point reduction in average daily traffic. Transurban Group shares lost 1.75 per cent to $3.93.
Turning now to market indices: The best performing sector midday is the Real Estate Investment Trust index up 7 points to 725. Shares in Stockland are up 2.33 per cent at $3.08. Shares in CFS Retail Property Trust and Bunnings Warehouse are also higher at noon.
The worst performing sector at midday is the Health Care index down 24 points to 7,720. Shares in Cochlear are down 1.31 per cent to $55.07. Shares in ResMed and CSL are also lower at noon.
Looking to New Zealand and the NZSX50 is 2 points higher.
Taking a look at the top five stocks by value on the NZSX50: Telecom of New Zealand heads the list, stock down 0.74 per cent at $2.68, followed by ANZ, Fletcher Building, Lion Nathan, and Auckland Airport.
To gold and the dollar: Gold is currently trading at $914.40 US an ounce and the Aussie dollar is trading at 78.23 US cents.
