The Australian share market firmed 0.3 per cent at close, notching up its sixth consecutive session of gains. The banks advanced, strengthened by Commonwealth Bank of Australia's
(ASX:CBA) stronger than expected record first-half profit. While the miners closed flat, with investors cautious following China’s interest rate rise.
The S&P/ASX200 Index closed 14 points stronger at 4,905. On the futures market, the SPI is up 7 points.
Company news: Shares in Webjet Ltd (ASX:WEB) slumped over 9 per cent today, following news the company’s half year net profit fell 3.2 per cent to just over $5 million. The online travel agency says the Queensland and Victorian floods affected the market, along with high interest costs impacting discretionary spending. Webjet has declared an interim dividend of five cents per share, fully franked. Shares in Webjet dropped 9.5 per cent today to close at $2.19.
Shares in Computershare Ltd (ASX:CPU) sunk into the red today following news the company’s half year net profit fell 31 per cent to $115.42 million. The share registry has however maintained its full fiscal 2011 earnings guidance, anticipating earnings per share will fall between 5 to 10 per cent from the year before. Computershare has declared an interim dividend of 14 cents per share, 60 per cent franked. Shares in Computershare dipped 3.83 per cent to close $9.80.
Scrap metal recycler Sims Metal Management Ltd(ASX:SGM) says it expects to next week report a 24 per cent increase in half year net profit to $49.3 million for the six months to 31 December.
Austereo Group Ltd (ASX:AEO) has lifted its first-half net profit by 9.9 per cent to just over $30 million, while revenue in the same period grew 11.6 per cent to $146.2 million.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) has reported a record first-half cash profit, rising 13 per cent to $3.34 billion.
OZ Minerals Ltd (ASX:OZL) has posted a turnaround full year net profit of $586.9 million, after booking a loss of $517.3 million the year before.
In the best and worst performers: The best performing sector at close was Financials Excluding Real Estate Investment Trusts with the index rising 74 to close at 5,405. The worst performing sector was Consumer Staples falling 76 points to close at 7,831. The best performing stock in the S&P/ ASX200 was Boral shares gained 8.9 per cent to close at $5.14. Shares in Aurora Oil and Gas and Ausdrill also closed stronger today. The worst performing stock was Sims Metal Management shares slid 4.5% to close at $18.69. Shares Computershare and Macquarie Group also dropped today.
In commodities, gold is trading at $US1,364 an ounce. Light crude is 54 cents up at $US87.48 a barrel.
