The Australian share market closed higher today, up half a per cent on the back of strength in Health Care and Industrials.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index is closed 25 points up to finish at 4,648 and was down 41 points for the week. On the futures market, the SPI200 up 24 points.
Looking to the US and on Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrial index is up 84 points for the four trading days this week. The S&P500 Index is up 4 points, the NASDAQ down 9 points and the 100 index down 8.
To company news: The operator of the Australian Securities Exchange, ASX Ltd (ASX:ASX) has put its own shares into a trading halt pending an announcement regarding the possibility of a business combination. According to the Australian, ASX is understood to be negotiating with its Singapore counterpart. ASX says it has noted an increase in its share price today, but does not have any information to disclose at this time. Shares in ASX closed 2.52% stronger at $34.96.
Shares in ThinkSmart Ltd (ASX:TSM) rose over 10 per cent today, following an announcement its Infinity consumer finance product has hit the UK market. The Infinity product will be launched across 683 Dixons stores, the UK’s largest specialist electrical retailer. CEO Ned Montarello says the Infinity product enables customers to set-up their computer before they leave the store, in a addition to numerous other benefits such as automatic online virus protection and 24/7 technical support. Shares in ThinkSmart closed 11.11% firmer at $0.70.
New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX:NHC) says Northern Energy Corporation (ASX:NEC) should accept its takeover offer of $1.50 per share, representing a 57.9 per cent premium to Northern Energy’s last closing price.
PaperlinX Ltd (ASX:PPX) says its first quarter fiscal 2011 earnings are at levels the company expected, following depressed results for the same time last year. The company reported a $225 million loss in fiscal 2010.
Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) has reported a 5 per cent increase in production volumes for the third quarter, and maintained its 2010 production target.
MAp Group (ASX:MAP) says earnings at Sydney Airport grew 14.2 per cent for the year to date because of growth in passenger numbers, commercial expansion and cost control.
In the best and worst performers: Most sectors closed in the black today, the best performing sector at close was Health Care, with the index up 78 to 8,198. The worst performing sector was Telco Services with the index down 1 point to 908. The best performing stock in the S&P/ ASX200 was Paladin Energy shares gained 5.76% to close at $4.22. Shares in Nufarm and Elders also closed higher. The worst performing stock was iSoft Group shares closed 6.19% weaker $0.091. Shares in Lynas Corporation and Gunns also closed lower today.
The Australian Dollar is trading at 98.37 US cents, down less than a cent on the week. In commodities, gold is trading at $1327 US an ounce which is down $40.00 on the week. And light crude is up $0.59 at $81.15 US a barrel.
