The local share market has closed the session stronger again today, boosted by gains in resource stocks on the back of rising commodity prices, and gains in Asian markets.
The Aussie dollar leapt to a five week high against the Yen at one point today, rising against the US dollar as well following Japan’s move to intervene and sell its currency for the first time since 2004.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index is up 35 points to finish at 4,662. On the futures market, the SPI200 is up 17 points.
To company news around this afternoon: Global miner BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) CEO Marius Kloppers has urged the government to set out a clear price signal on carbon. Reuters says the miner would like to see a combination of a carbon tax, land use actions and limited carbon trading. In other news reports are circulating that China is keeping a close eye on BHP’s bid for Canada’s Potash Corp, said to be uneasy about BHP becoming a more dominant force in the potash industry. And the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has agreed to delay its decision on BHP and Rio Tinto’s proposed tie-up at the request of both miners to allow them to make further submissions. Shares in BHP Billiton closed 1% higher at $39.44 today.
And media giant News Corp (ASX:NWS) Aussie arm News Ltd has agreed to sell its Fijian Times newspaper after the Government of Fiji issued a decree that the country’s media assets should be owned by Fijian companies. According to the Dow Jones Newswires, News Ltd chairman John Hartigan says although reluctant to sell the business, the company is delighted to have found a buyer who will take over the business as a going concern, respect its heritage and invest in its future. Shares in News Corp closed 1.95% stronger today at $16.75.
Also making news: Transfield Services Ltd (ASX:TSE) joint venture with Transdev has renewed its contract to continue operating Brisbane’s CityCat and CityFerry services. Transfield says the contract is for 10 years from this November and is worth $150 million.
Campbell Brothers Ltd (ASX:CPB) has extended the offer period for its takeover bid for Ammtec Ltd (ASX:AEC) to October 13th.
Origin Energy Ltd (ASX:ORG) signs an agreement with the governments of Papua New Guinea and Queensland for the potential development of a renewable hydro electricity project.
And Aristocrat Leisure Ltd (ASX:ALL) says it will pay US$212 million in damages, after a settlement was reached in litigation concerning convertible bonds in the US.
In the best and worst performers: Majority of sectors closed in the black today. The best performing sector at close was the Financials excluding Real Estate Investment Trusts with the index up 56 points at 5,239. The only sector in the red at close was the Telco Services sector with the index down under a point at 958.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ ASX200 was Roc Oil shares were 5.26% higher at $0.40. Shares in Platinum Australia and IRESS Market Technology also closed higher.
The worst performing stock was Sundance Resources with shares falling 7.55% to close at $0.245. Shares in Biota Holdings and Carnarvon Petroleum also lower.
In commodities, gold is trading at $1269 US an ounce. And light crude is down $0.47 at $76.33 US a barrel.
