Reporting season sees pandemic impact: Aus shares 0.8% down

The Australian share market dropped at the open closing 0.8 per cent down at the end of trade.

IDP Education (ASX:IEL) led the top 200 gains for the session, up almost 30 per cent, and Webjet (ASX:WEB) led the losses for the day. 

The S&P/ASX200 index

At the closing bell the S&P/ASX 200 index closed 48 points lower to finish at 6,120.

Futures market

Dow futures are suggesting a fall of 152 points.
S&P 500 futures are eyeing a dip of 17 points.
The Nasdaq futures are eyeing a fall of 53 points.
And the ASX200 futures are eyeing a 45 point fall tomorrow morning. 

Looking at some more headlines: 

The day saw August’s reporting season in full swing. With the global impact of the pandemic, it was no doubt many companies experienced their worst results on record.

Qantas (ASX:QAN) profit has plunged 91%, with the airline posting a $2.7billion drop. In what has been the most challenging period in its long history, Qantas (ASX:QAN) reported a $124 million Underlying Profit Before Tax for the 2020 financial year.

Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) have reported their profit for the year is down 69%.

Pokie Machine supplier Ainsworth Gaming (ASX:AGI) have confirmed won't pay a final dividend and are expected a loss of $34 million. Due to the closure and strict restrictions imposed on the gaming industry, second half revenue fell 63 per cent to $42 million. 

Sequoia Financial Group (ASX:SEQ) reported that the 18-month business improvement process has resulted in a successful FY20 financial performance. The company significantly improved EBITDA of $4.8m, accelerating 2H20 momentum, with EBITDA of $3.4m. Sequoia highlighted the successful integration of an additional four advisory businesses into Sequoia Wealth Group, making the company the fourth largest non-aligned advisory business in Australia. Morrison Securities monthly value of trading transactions also increased by 300%.

Best and worst performers

The best-performing sector was Real Estate Investment Trusts, rising 1 per cent. The worst-performing sector was Energy, shedding 3.7 per cent.

The best-performing stock on the S&P/ASX 200 was IDP Education (ASX:IEL), closing 28.5 per cent higher at $19.17. It was followed by McMilllan Shakespeare (ASX:MMS) and Afterpay (ASX:APT).

The worst-performing stock on the S&P/ASX 200 was Webjet (ASX:WEB), closing 12.5 per cent lower at $3.22. It was followed by IPH (ASX:IPH) and Origin Energy (ASX:ORG).

Asian markets

Lower. Japan's Nikkei has lost 1 per cent, Hong Kong's Hang Seng has lost 2 per cent and China's Shanghai Composite has lost 1 per cent.

Commodities and the dollar

Gold is trading at US$1950 an ounce.
The iron price is 0.4 per cent higher at US$129.09 a ton.
Its futures are pointing to a fall of 1.5 per cent.
Light crude is 44 cents lower at US$42.49 a barrel.
One Australian dollar is buying 71.73 US cents.

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