It’s been a positive session for the Australian share market despite the US market rally running out of puff. The local bourse opened the day in the black and managed to gain momentum throughout the session before closing 0.69 per cent higher. The healthcare space led the charge today with the likes of Sirtex gaining more than 4 per cent and CSL adding over 2 per cent. Materials proved to be the biggest drag on the market with BHP and Rio Tinto closing the day 3 and 2 per cent lower.
The S&P/ASX 200 index closed 37 points higher to finish at 5,489.
The value of trades was $5.2 billion on volume of 720 million shares at the close of trade. The top three stocks by value were BHP Billiton Limited
(ASX:BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(ASX:CBA), ANZ Banking Group
(ASX:ANZ).
On the futures market the SPI is up 36 points.
Company newsIOT Group Limited
(ASX:IOT) says its recent sales meetings in New York exceeded expectations. The company says it met with four of the top US consumer tech retailers and all four will range and support the Roam-e flying selfie drone product. The company has described the product as a “Selfie stick on steroids”.Shares in IOT closed 1.52 per cent lower at $0.065.
BHP Billiton Ltd
(ASX:BHP) has released its operational report for the year ended 30 June 2016.The mining company says it exceeded full year production guidance for petroleum, copper and coal.
Mortgage lending company, Homeloans Ltd
(ASX:HOM) is looking to merge with RESIMAC, another non-bank lender.
Medical device company, ImpediMed Limited
(ASX:IPD), has entered a strategic partnership with med-tech company, Redox.
Best and worst performersThe best performing sector was Healthcare adding 1.8 per cent to close at 22,333. The worst performing sector was Materials, losing 1.4 per cent to close at 8,529 points.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ASX 200 was Programmed, rising 5.78 per cent to close at $1.74. Shares in Sirtex and Metcash also closed higher.
The worst performing stock was CIMIC Group, dropping 19.01 per cent to close at $26.96. Shares in Independence Group and Western Areas also closed lower.
Commodities and the dollarGold is trading at $US1,330 an ounce.
Light crude is $0.49 lower at $US45.45 a barrel.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7502.
