Despite positive offshore leads the Australian share market is flat at noon. Gains are being led by the heavyweight miners, with both Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) and BHP Billiton Ltd (ASX:BHP) higher. The big for banks are all lower at noon.
The S&P/ASX200 index has dropped 1 point and is 4,821 at noon. On the futures market the SPI is flat.
Company news: Newcrest Mining Ltd (ASX:NCM) has announced that it has suspended operations at its Bonikro gold mine in Ivory Coast because of a deterioration in the security situation. Newcrest advises that expatriates have been evacuated to Ghana and a small team of company security remain at the site to safeguard the plant and equipment. Shares in Newcrest Mining have dipped 0.95 per cent at noon and are trading at $39.55.
Leighton Holdings Ltd (ASX:LEI) has been awarded a three-year $144 million mining services contract in Central Queensland. The contract is its first with Anglo American and will see Leighton’s subsidiary John Holland provide mining services to a number of open coal pits. John Holland’s group managing director Glenn Palin says the contract represents the expansion of its services to the mining and resource sectors. Shares in Leighton Holdings have slipped 0.51 per cent at noon and trading at $29.54.
To the best and worst performers: The best performing sector is Telco Services, rising 13 points to 970. Shares in Big Air Group have lifted 2.7 per cent and trading at $0.19. Shares in Amcom Telecommunications and Telstra have also firmed at midday. The worst performing sector is Energy, falling 212 point to 16,884. Shares in Eastern Star Gas have fallen 3.27 per cent to $0.74. Shares in Woodside Petroleum and Linc Energy have also dipped at midday.
To New Zealand: The NZSX50 has gained 4 points. Taking a look at the top four stocks by turnover, Fletcher Building is at the top of the list with stock up 0.87 per cent at $9.28 followed by Westpac, ANZ, Telecom Corporation of New Zealand.
To gold and the dollar: Gold is trading at $US1422 an ounce and the Aussie dollar is buying $US1.0333 cents.
