Aussie shares closed higher today, with the major miners like BHP and energy stocks such as Woodside Petroleum leading the gains.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index closed 50 points higher at 4,050 while on the futures market, the SPI200’s up 26.
To company news around this afternoon: Uranium miner Energy Resources of Australia Ltd (ASX:ERA) says it expects to report net earnings for the June 2009 half year in excess of $120 million. This compares to net earnings of $39 million recorded in the June 2008 half year. Just last week the company announced that uranium oxide production for the June quarter rose 44 per cent to 1.48 tonnes compared to June quarter 2008. The result was also 22 per cent higher than the March quarter, largely thanks to improved grades and mill through-put. Shares in Energy Resources of Australia closed 5.39 per cent higher at $24.62.
Macquarie Airports (ASX:MAP) says passenger numbers across its portfolio of airports fell in June, although the company says the rate of decline has moderated. At the company’s Sydney Airport traffic fell 4.1 per cent in June compared to the same month a year ago. CEO Kerrie Mather says the traffic performance at Macquarie’s airports in June shows continued evidence of moderation in the rates of decline with Copenhagen and Brussels in particular displaying single digit falls. Macquarie Airports shares closed 4.89 per cent stronger at $2.36.
Also making news today: Waste management company Transpacific Industries Group Ltd (ASX:TPI) says it raised around $560 million from the institutional component of its share entitlement offer at $1.20 a share, with shareholders taking up 86 per cent of their entitlements.
Australand Property Group (ASX:ALZ) says it will write-down the value of its property portfolio by $235 million as at June 30 2009. The company also says it will incur an impairment charge of around $134 million before tax.
Energy company Arrow Energy Ltd (ASX:AOE) says Shell CSG has decided to exercise its right to take up a share of the Tipton West assets.
And Engineering company GRD Ltd (ASX:GRD) has recommended shareholders vote in favour of a proposed $106 million takeover offer from U.K. based AMEC.
Now to the best and worst performers: The best performing sector at close was the Materials index, up 222 points to 10,495; while the only sector at close in the red was the Real Estate Investment Trust index; down 1 point to 767.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ ASX200 was Sundance Resources shares rose 10.34 per cent to 16 cents. Shares in Fortescue Metals Group and Kagara also closed higher.
The worst performing stock was Macquarie CountryWide with shares falling 9.76 per cent to $0.555. Shares in Henderson Group and OM Holdings also closed lower.
In commodities, gold is trading at $945.10 U.S an ounce and light crude is up 71 cents at $64.27 U.S a barrel.
