Australian shares remained resilient to ex-dividend falls in major companies, including BHP
(ASX:BHP), Rio Tinto
(ASX:RIO), and CSL
(ASX:CSL), as most sectors rose after the US market stabilised.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index ended up 0.05 per cent or 3.3 points higher at 7,311.10, with gains led by the tech sector and consumer discretionary sector.
Job cuts at Xero
(ASX:XRO) and strong results from Myer
(ASX:MYR) contributed to the positive sentiment.
Coal miners rose strongly, and bank shares gained amid rising interest rates. Despite the ex-dividend falls, nine of eleven share market sectors closed in the green.
FuturesThe Dow Jones futures are pointing to a fall of 17 points.
The S&P 500 futures are pointing to a fall of 3.75 points.
The Nasdaq futures are pointing to a fall of 18.25 points.
The SPI futures are pointing to a rise of 39 points when the market next opens.
Best and worst performersThe best-performing sector was Information Technology, up 2.71 per cent. The worst-performing sector was Health Care, down 1.52 per cent.
The best-performing large cap was Xero
(ASX:XRO), closing 10.66 per cent higher at $87.00. It was followed by shares in Whitehaven Coal
(ASX:WHC) and Yancoal Australia
(ASX:YAL).
The worst-performing large cap was Meridian Energy
(ASX:MEZ), closing 2.63 per cent lower at $4.81. It was followed by shares in Infratil
(ASX:IFT) and CSL
(ASX:CSL).
Asian marketsJapan's Nikkei has gained 0.51 per cent.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng has gained 0.30 per cent.
China's Shanghai Composite has gained 0.40 per cent.
Company newsPrescient Therapeutics
(ASX:PTX) has announced that the US FDA Grants Orphan Drug Designation to PTX-100 for broader TCL indications. Prescient Managing Director and CEO Steven Yatomi-Clarke said “This now confers the certainty of 7 years of market exclusivity for PTX-100 in a broader range of diseases with unmet or poorly met clinical need.” Shares closed 28.9 per cent higher at 12.5 cents.
Lindian Resources
(ASX:LIN) has announced that their Kangankunde Rare Earths project has continued to deliver high-grade rare earth assays and extensive intersections. Lindian’s Chief Executive Officer, Alistair Stephens commented: “As we expected, these latest assays continue to demonstrate high grade and very broad, consistent intersections of non-radioactive mineralisation.” Shares closed 18.4 per cent higher at 29 cents.
Solstice Minerals
(ASX:SLS) has announced high grade nickel sulphide drill results at their GSP Prospect. In response, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr Nick Castleden said: “The delivery of these compelling nickel hits in the very first phase of drilling is a great result and a credit to the targeting skills of the Solstice team and validates the GSP Prospect as a ‘live’ high-tenor nickel sulphide system.” Shares closed 12.9 per cent higher at 17.5 cents.
Commodities and the dollarGold is trading at US$1,818.80 an ounce.
Iron ore is 0.1 per cent lower at US$127.90 a tonne.
Iron ore futures are pointing to a 1.3 per cent fall.
Light crude is trading $0.02 lower at US$76.64 a barrel.
One Australian dollar is buying 66.11 US cents.
