It’s been a lack lustre finish to 2015 for the local share market; it followed weak leads from Wall Street and closed the session 0.45 per cent lower. There were very low volumes on the market today and it was the financials sector and materials space which proved to be the biggest weight on the index.
Today, the S&P/ASX 200 index closed 24 points down to finish at 5,296. Over the week the index gained 88 points.
The value of trades was $2.1 billion on volume of 304 million shares at the close of trade. The top three stocks by value were Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(ASX:CBA), Westpac Banking Corporation
(ASX:WBC) and ANZ Banking Group
(ASX:ANZ).
On the futures market the SPI is 32 points lower.
US markets
Looking at Wall Street, US major indexes have risen over the three trading days this week: The Dow Jones Industrial Average has added 0.3 per cent. The S&P 500 Index has gained 0.1 per cent. The NASDAQ has added 0.3 per cent. The 100 Index has increased 0.6 per cent.
Company news Eureka Group Holdings Limited
(ASX:EGH) has announced its final rental retirement village acquisition for calendar year 2015. The company has entered into a conditional contract for the acquisition of a 60-room village in Salisbury Adelaide from an unlisted property trust for $3.1 million and the associated business from the current operator for $1.5 million. Shares in Eureka Group closed 0.83 per cent higher at $0.60.
TopBetta Holdings Limited
(ASX:TBH) has announced it has partnered with digital horse racing media business G1X.com.au to provide the business with its own fantasy wagering products and promotions.
Yowie Group Limited
(ASX:YOW) has announced that the company has significantly expanded its contracted manufacturing capacity in the USA by entering into a long term manufacturing agreement with Madelaine Chocolate Company.
Best and worst performers
The best performing sector was Utilities adding 0.2 per cent to close at 6,942. The worst performing sector was REITs, losing 1.7 per cent to close at 1,291 points.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ASX 200 was Transpacific Industries, rising 6.76 per cent to close at $0.79. Shares in Syrah Resources and Austal also closed higher.
The worst performing stock was Evolution Mining, dropping 4.47 per cent to close at $1.39. Shares in Sandfire and Slater and Gordon also closed lower.
Commodities and the dollar
The price of gold is trading at $US1,063 an ounce, and is down $14.40 over the week.
Light crude is $1.27 lower at $US36.60 a barrel.
The Australian dollar is buying $0.7301 and is $0.002 higher over the week.
