Pushing through the afternoon the Australian share market closed 0.4 per cent up. The big four banks helped with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia
(ASX:CBA) the ANZ
(ASX:ANZ) Westpac
(ASX:WBC) and the NAB
(ASX:NAB) all seeing rise towards the end of trading. Energy was the best performing sector today adding 2.1 per cent while the worst performing sector was Real Estate Investment Trust. A jobs report was released showing unemployment for December was down. The Australian dollar is trading down at US71.07 US cents. ANZ At the closing bell the S&P/ASX 200 index closed 22 points up to finish at 5,866.
Futures marketDow futures are suggesting a fall of 21 points.
S&P 500 futures are eyeing a dip of 1 points.
The Nasdaq futures are eyeing a gain of 7 points.
And the ASX200 futures are eyeing a 17 point rise tomorrow morning
Local economic news The Australian Bureau of statistics released the December employment report earlier today - it shows 21,600 jobs were created and a drop in the unemployment rate to 5 per cent. The market was looking for 18,000 jobs created and a flat unemployment rate of 5.1 per cent.
Company news Software company LiveTiles
(ASX:LVT) has launched an Airline AI Bot Solution in conjunction with Microsoft. LiveTiles’ Gate Agent Assistant Bot uses artificial intelligence to provide automated responses and retrieve the information required to allow airline staff to quickly respond to customer demands at the gate. The customisable chatbot provides staff with an easy to use, conversational interface that sources information from an airline’s existing systems. Shares in LiveTiles
(ASX:LVT) closed 5.3 per cent higher at $0.40
Sandfire Resources NL
(ASX:SFR) announces the resignation of Mr Robert Klug as Joint Company Secretary with effect from today. Mr Robert Klug will continue in his role as Chief Commercial Officer. Mr Matthew Fitzgerald will continue his role as Company Secretary and Chief Financial Officer. Shares in Sandfire Resources NL
(ASX:SFR) closed 3 per cent higher at $6.90.
Santos
(ASX:STO) has delivered record quarterly sales revenue of over $1 billion and record quarterly LNG sales revenue of $449 million. The results come on the back of the mining giant's US$1.93 billion acquisition of Quadrant Energy which provided a significant boost to 2019 production.
And Coles
(ASX:COL) will make a $146 million pre-tax provision in its first-half results as it moves to modernise its supply chain network. The supermarket chain says it will spend a total of $950 million on two automated distribution centres, one in Queensland and one in NSW, over six years.
Best and worst performers The best performing sector was Energy adding 2.1 per cent while the worst performing sector was Real Estate Investment Trust, shedding 0.2 per cent.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ASX 200 was McMillan Shakespeare
(ASX:MMS), rising 5.2 per cent to close at $15.51. Shares in Whitehaven Coal
(ASX:WHC) and Bluescope Steel
(ASX:BSL) followed higher.
The worst performing stock in the S&P/ASX 200 was Galaxy Resources
(ASX:GXY), dropping 6.3 per cent to close at $2.10. Shares in Northern Star Resources
(ASX:NST) and Nine Entertainment Co Holdings
(ASX:NEC) followed lower.
Asian marketsMixed:Japan’s Nikkei has lost 0.2 per cent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng has added 0.1 per cent and the Shanghai Composite has gained 0.5 per cent.
Commodities and the dollar Gold is trading at $US1,281 an ounce.
Iron ore price fell 0.4 per cent at $74.48 and its futures are pointing to a rise of 1.4 per cent
Light crude is $0.58 lower at $US52.43 a barrel.
One Australian dollar is buying 71.07 US cents.
