It’s been another good day on the market with strength in energy and materials and another positive lead from offshore behind the gains. The market finished 0.66 per cent.
The ASX 200 closed 35 points up to finish at 5,389.
The value of trades was $5 billion on volume of 726 million shares at the close of trade. The top three stocks by value were BHP Billiton Limited
(ASX:BHP), ANZ Banking Group
(ASX:ANZ) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(ASX:CBA).
On the futures market the SPI is 28 points up
Company newsBear Head LNG Corporation Inc , a subsidiary of Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd
(ASX:LNG) has received government approval for its Greenhouse Gas Management Plan in relation to its liquefied natural gas facility in Nova Scotia. Shares in Liquefied Natural Gas closed steady at $0.73.
SmartTrans Holdings Ltd
(ASX:SMA) has extended its product range by entering an agreement to sell Blooms Health Products through its online portals in China.
NetComm Wireless Ltd
(ASX:NTC) has signed a deal to supply Nokia with its fixed wireless devices. This deal will help Nokia advance its FastMile initiative, which aims to deliver LTE broadband in rural and regional areas worldwide.
And finally the South Australian government has approved the conditional sale of a 16.5 hectare site in Adelaide to property developer, Cedar Woods Properties Ltd
(ASX:CWP). The purchase price was $25.8 million plus GST.
Best and worst performersThe best performing sector was Materials adding 2 per cent to close at 8,918. The worst performing sector was Healthcare losing 0.5 per cent to close at 21,393 points.
The best performing stock in the ASX 200 was Western Areas, rising 13.16 per cent to close at $3.01. Shares in Sandfire Resources and Flexi Group also closed higher.
The worst performing stock was Carsales.com, dropping 2.34 per cent to close at $12.12. Shares in Spark NZ and IPH also closed lower.
IPOs Two new listings today both did very well.
Race Oncology Ltd
(ASX:RAC) floated with an issue price of 20 cents, opened at 25 cents and closed at 26.5 cents. And Scottish Pacific Group Ltd
(ASX:SCO) floated at $3.20, first trade at $3.35 and closed at $3.35.
CommoditiesGold is trading at $US1,339 an ounce.
Light crude is $2.05 higher at $US47.57 a barrel.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7584.
