Following positive leads from Wall street after a surge in energy stocks, the Australian share market opened in the black and is currently tracking 0.6 per cent higher at noon. The materials space led by the big miners is doing the bulk of the heavy lifting with BHP jumping almost 4 per cent and Rio Tinto gaining 3 per cent. Not a good day for the healthcare space however, with losses in CSL and Cochlear.
The S&P/ASX 200 index is 33 points up at 5,221. On the futures market the SPI is 45 points higher.
Company news YPB Group Limited
(ASX:YPB) has received its first reorder of high security vital record documents in Mexico, further validating the depth of potential business and revenue from the Affyrmx joint venture. YPB will provide 200,000 high security vital record documents to the State of Jalisco, one of the largest of the 32 states in Mexico. Shares in YPB Group last traded at $0.28.
Australian Bauxite Limited’s
(ASX:ABX) maiden shipment of 5,557 tonnes of cement grade-bauxite has been loaded overnight and the ship has left Bell Bay port in northern Tasmania. The company says its the first sale of bauxite from ABX’s Bald Hill mine, which is the first new bauxite project in Australia for more than 35 years. Shares in Australian Bauxite are trading up 13.33 per cent at $0.17.
Best and worst peformers
The best performing sector is Materials, gaining 2.17 per cent to 8,144. Shares in Fortescue have risen 6.54 per cent and trading at $3.26. Shares in BHP and CSR are also stronger.
The worst performing sector is Healthcare, falling 0.3 per cent to 19,764. Shares in Regis Health have fallen 1.62 per cent, trading at $5.16. Shares in Sonic Healthcare and Cochlear are also lower.
Gold and the dollar
Gold is trading at $US1,243 an ounce.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7592.
