It has been positive day of trade for the Australian share market gaining ground and recovering from yesterday’s red close.
After opening in the black following mostly higher leads from Wall Street, the local bourse kicked up again after BHP Billiton
(ASX:BHP) reported its profit after tax surged higher.
After Midday, the majority of the sectors were pulling the market up, with the most jet fuel coming from Industrials, after Mondephous
(ASX:MND) and Sydney Airport
(ASX:SYD) traded higher. Meantime, the biggest drag came from Staples, after Inghams Group
(ASX:ING) shed about 4 per cent, regardless of the company reporting stronger FY17 results.
At the closing bell the S&P/ASX 200 index closed 24 points up, or 0.41 per cent higher/ to finish at 5,750.
The value of trades was $5.3 billion on volume of 747 million shares at the close of trade. The top three stocks by value were BHP Billiton Limited
(ASX:BHP), Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(ASX:CBA) and Primary Health Care Limited
(ASX:PRY).
On the futures market the SPI is 34 points up.
Asian markets Japan’s Nikkei is flat, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng has added 1.01 per cent and the Shanghai Composite has gained 0.07 per cent.
Company news SMS Management and Technology
(ASX:SMX) reported its net loss after tax fell to $42.1 million in the 2017 financial year. The IT service management company also saw weaker revenue of $304.5 million over the same period, which was a 7 per cent fall on FY16. Shares in SMS Management and Technology
(ASX:SMX) closed 0.56 per cent higher at $1.79
BHP Billiton
(ASX:BHP) reported its attributable net profit after tax rose 192 per cent to US$5.9 billion, for the full year to 30 June 2017. It was a solid swing into positive territory, up from its loss in the 2016 financial year. Despite that, it was actually shy of the US$7.24 billion some analysts expected.
Seven Group Holdings
(ASX:SVW) has reported its attributable net profit fell 77.4 per cent to $44.5 million for the 12 months to 30 June 2017.
Sydney Airport
(ASX:SYD) has announced its attributable profit after tax rose 4.4 per cent to $167 million, for the six months to 30 June 2017 compared to the six months to 30 June 2016.
Best and worst performers of the dayThe best performing sector was Industrials adding 1.3 per cent to close at 5,752.
The worst performing sector was Consumer Staples shedding 1.04 per cent to close at 9,433 points.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ASX 200 was Seven Group Holdings Limited
(ASX:SVW), rising 8.9 per cent to close at $12.85. Shares in Bluescope Steel Limited
(ASX:BSL) and Monadelphous Group Limited
(ASX:MND) also closed higher.
The worst performing stock in the S&P/ASX 200 was Aconex Limited
(ASX:ACX), dropping 10.00 per cent to close at $4.14. Shares in Corporate Travel Management Limited
(ASX:CTD) and APN Outdoor Group Limited
(ASX:APO) also closed lower.
CommoditiesGold is trading at $US1,289 an ounce.
Light crude is $1.09 lower at $47.57 barrel.
One Australian dollar is buying 79.44 US cents.
