Following another positive lead from Wall Street on Friday the Australian share market has once again followed in its footsteps opening higher and gaining 0.38 per cent at noon. The energy space is leading the charge this session after a jump in the price of Brent crude overnight. The big banks are also continuing to surge ahead with CBA now passing the $81 mark.
The S&P/ASX 200 index is 21 points up at 5,582. On the futures market the SPI is 25 points higher.
Company newsBellamy’s Australia Limited
(ASX:BAL) has gone into a trading halt pending an update on the impact of trading conditions on the company’s financials. Bellamy’s shares lost almost half of their value last week when the company provided a business update to the market and cited regulatory changes in China as impacting on performance. Bellamy’s will release the announcement to the market by this Wednesday. Shares in Bellamy’s last traded at $6.68.
Downer EDI Limited
(ASX:DOW) says Transport for NSW has awarded Keolis Downer a 10 year contract, valued at approximately $450 million. Under the contract, the company will operate a new, integrated public transport system for the City of Newcastle. Newcastle Transport will be the first multi-modal transport system contracted to the private sector in Australia and Keolis Downer is the largest private provider of multi-modal public transport. Shares in Downer EDI are trading up 1.81 per cent at $6.19.
Best and worst performersThe best performing sector is Energy gaining 2.9 per cent to 9,251. Shares in Beach Energy have risen 4.47 per cent and trading at $0.94. Shares in Santos and Whitehaven Coal are also stronger.
The worst performing sector is Healthcare losing 0.9 per cent to 19,007. Shares in Mayne Pharma have fallen 2.45 per cent, trading at $1.49. Shares in Ramsay Health Care and CSL are also lower.
Gold and the dollarGold is trading at $US1,155 an ounce.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7445.
