Following positive leads from Wall Street overnight on the back of a bounce in the oil price, the Australian share market opened in positive territory and is currently tracking 1 per cent higher at noon. All sectors are in the black, apart from the materials space, with the big miners BHP and Rio Tinto once again proving to be the biggest drag on the market.
The S&P/ASX 200 index is 51 points higher at 5,318. On the futures market the SPI is up 37 points.
Company news OzGrowth Limited
(ASX:OZG) says it will pay a 0.25 cent per share fully franked interim dividend as at 31 December 2015. The interim dividend is anticipated to be paid to shareholders in early February 2016. Shares in OzGrowth are trading up 4.17 per cent at $0.13.
Westoz Investment Company Limited
(ASX:WIC) has confirmed its intention to provide for the payment of a 3 cent per share fully franked interim dividend as at 31 December 2015. The interim dividend represents 50 per cent of the targeted annual dividend of 6 cents per share. Shares in Westoz last traded at $0.83.
Best and worst performers
The best performing sector is Energy, gaining 1.35 per cent to 8,077. Shares in Karoon Gas have risen 4.14 per cent and trading at $1.76. Shares in Beach Energy and Caltex are also stronger.
The only sector in negative territory is Materials, falling 0.06 per cent to 7,060. Shares in Bluescope Steel have fallen 4.66 per cent, trading at $4.30. Shares in Regis Resources and South 32 are also lower.
Gold and the dollar
Gold is trading at $US1,069 an ounce.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7295.
