As US markets continue to rally towards 20,000 the Australian share market has also surged ahead, opening in the black and gaining momentum throughout the session before closing 0.9 per cent higher. The healthcare space led the gains this session with the likes of Ramsay Health
(ASX:RHC) closing more than 3 per cent higher and Cochlear
(ASX:COH) gaining close to 4 per cent. The big banks also had a stellar session, all gaining between 1.3 and 1.6 per cent.
At the closing bell the S&P/ASX 200 index closed 52 points up to finish at 5,807.
The value of trades was $4.7 billion on volume of 625 million shares at the close of trade. The top three stocks by value were Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(ASX:CBA), Telstra Corporation Limited
(ASX:TLS) and Westpac Banking Corporation
(ASX:WBC).
On the futures market the SPI is 51 points up.
Economic news Australia’s employment market has slowed down in the second half of 2016 according to the latest ANZ job ads data. Job ads fell 2.9 per cent in December, seasonally adjusted, following a 1.6 per cent rise in November.
Company newsWebjet Limited
(ASX:WEB) has confirmed that the sale of its bookings business Zuji has been completed. Zuji was sold to subsidiaries of HK-based Uriel Aviation for $56 million. Webjet will make $26 million on the sale.
Shares in Webjet closed 1.47 per cent up at $10.38.
Whitehaven Coal Limited
(ASX:WHC) has revised production guidance for its Narrabri longwall operation, which will now be in the range of 7.5Mt to 7.8Mt.
CSL Limited
(ASX:CSL) has announced the European Commission has granted marketing approval for its haemophilia A treatment AFSTYLA®.
Sino Gas & Energy Holdings Limited
(ASX:SEH) has welcomed news China will be aiming to double its natural gas consumption by 2020.
Best and worst performersThe best performing sector was Healthcare adding 1.9 per cent to close at 20,500. The worst performing sector was Materials, losing 0.14 per cent to close at 9,893 points.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ASX 200 was Syrah Resources
(ASX:SYR), rising 6.71 per cent to close at $3.50. Shares in Galaxy Resources
(ASX:GXY) and Cochlear
(ASX:COH) also closed higher.
The worst performing stock was Fortescue Metals
(ASX:FMG), dropping 3.79 per cent to close at $5.84. Shares in Tatts Group
(ASX:TTS) and Reliance Worldwide
(ASX:RWC) also closed lower.
Commodities and the dollarGold is trading at $US1,175 an ounce.
Light crude is $0.06 lower at $US53.70 a barrel.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7310.
