Following a mixed lead from Wall Street the Australian Market opened the session in negative territory this morning and is still struggling for direction tracking 0.4 per cent lower at noon. We have seen losses in all of the big four banks, but it’s the healthcare space that is faring the worst with the likes of pharmaceutical giant CSL losing around 1.5 per cent.
The S&P/ASX 200 index is 22 points down at 5,453. On the futures market the SPI is 21 points lower.
Company newsLucapa Diamond Company Limited
(ASX:LOM) says it has agreed to acquire an 80 per cent interest in Leopold’s diamond exploration project in the West Kimberly in WA. Leopold is a privately owned company which owns the prospective Brooking Diamond Project, comprising two exploration licences covering 128 square kilometres. The Brooking Project is located within the Ellendale diamond field, which was formally the world’s leading producer of rare yellow diamonds. Shares in Lucapa Diamond Company are trading flat at $0.53.
Infigen Energy Limited
(ASX:IFN) has announced the retirement of its Managing Director and CEO Miles George. Mr George will retire after the company’s Annual General Meeting in November and will cease employment with Infigen at the end of the year. Mr George has been the Managing Director and CEO of Infigen since 2009. Non-executive director Ross Rolfe AO will succeed Mr George in the position. Shares in Infigen Energy are trading up 1.33 per cent at $0.76.
Best and worst performersThe best performing sector is Staples, gaining 0.35 per cent to 9,249. Shares in Blackmores have risen 2.14 per cent and trading at $117.34. Shares in Australian Agriculture and Metcash are also stronger.
The worst performing sector is healthcare, falling 1.05 per cent to 21,302. Shares in Australian Pharmaceuticals have fallen 2.76 per cent, trading at $1.94. Shares in Sigma Pharmaceuticals and Primary Health Care are also lower.
Gold and the dollarGold is trading at $US1,254 an ounce.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7538.
