Despite Wall Street wrapping up the trading week on a high note on Friday, the Australian share market seems to have a mind of its own this session and is struggling for direction tracking practically flat at noon or up 0.07 per cent. The materials and financial sectors are proving to be the biggest drag on the market so far with small losses in the big miners BHP and Rio Tinto as well as all of the big four banks. The healthcare space is mostly higher with small gains in CSL and Cochlear.
The S&P/ASX 200 index is 4 point higher at 5,410. On the futures market the SPI is up 7 points.
Company news Dubber Corporation Limited
(ASX:DUB) says it has been selected by Broadsoft Japan as the audio call recording platform for its Broadcloud platform and UC-One service for Japanese telecommunications carriers. The company says BroadCloud eliminates the need for service providers to make substantial capital investments and speeds time-to-market for new service offerings. Shares in Dubber are trading down 1.67 per cent at $0.59.
MedAdvisor Limited
(ASX:MDR) has announced it has signed a 12 month agreement to collaborate with Novartis Pharmaceuticals in Australia. Under the agreement Novartis will use MedAdvisor’s medication adherence platform for the development and delivery of a patient engagement program for three medications within its oncology portfolio. Shares in MedAdvisor are trading up 3.23 per cent at $0.03.
Best and worst performers
The best performing sector is Staples, gaining 0.97 per cent to 8,639. Shares in Select Harvests have risen 5.49 per cent and trading at $6.72. Shares in Australian Agricultural Company and Woolworths are also stronger.
The worst performing sector is Materials, falling 0.66 per cent to 8,029. Shares in Saracen have fallen 6.58 per cent, trading at $1.06. Shares in St Barbara and Evolution Mining are also lower.
IPOs WAM Leaders Limited
(ASX:WLE) started trading today. The listed investment company floated with an issue price of $1.10, opened at $1.09 and is currently trading at $1.08.
Gold and the dollar
Gold is trading at $US1,204 an ounce.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7162.
