martes, 13 de diciembre de 2011

Finance News Network ( Australia )

Market Wrap: Aus shares down 1.4%

December 13, 2011 05:10 PM
The Aussie sharemarket closed 1.4 per cent lower, all sectors except consumer staples in the red as investors brace for possible mass downgrades of euro zone countries.
Today, the S&P/ASX 200 Index today lost 59 points to finish at 4,193. On the futures market, the SPI is 77 points lower.
Economic news
The Bureau of Statistics says business finance rose in October, but housing starts dropped sharply in the three months to the end of September.
Figures show total personal finance commitments rose 5.2 per cent in October. Total commercial finance was up 16.5 per cent, lease finance was down 2.4 per cent, and housing finance for owner occupation was down 1.2 per cent.
The ABS also says housing starts dropped 6.8 per cent in the third quarter. In the year to September, total dwelling commencements were down 11.5 per cent.
In other economic news the National Australia Bank says business conditions improved last month, while business confidence remained unchanged. The NAB’s business conditions index increased to one point during November, from a read of zero the month before. Business confidence came in at two points, below its long-term average.
Company news 
Orica Limited (ASX:ORI) says it’s producing ammonium nitrate at its Newcastle plant again. The chemical company has been cleared to restart three nitric acid plants and two ammonium nitrate plants on the Kooragang Island site, after the prevention notice issued after a leak in November was lifted last week. Shares in Orica Limited (ASX:ORI) closed 1.2 per cent lower at $25.47.
Rio Tinto Limited’s (ASX:RIO) confirmed an arbitrator upheld its claim against Ivanhoe Mines' poison pill, which was designed to stop Rio Tinto from creeping above its 49 per cent stake. It told Reuters it’s currently examining the decision, but can confirm an independent arbitrator has upheld its claim in respect of Ivanhoe Mines' Shareholder Rights Plan. Shares in Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) closed 2.14 per cent lower today at $62.76.
Aquarius Platinum Limited (ASX:AQP) shares took a battering today, closing 8.76 per cent lower, after it announced its indirect 50 per cent subsidiary Mimosa Holdings signed a deed of trust incorporating the Zvishavane Community Share Ownership Trust in Zimbabwe. The beneficiaries will include communities surrounding the Mimosa mine.
Watpac Limited (ASX:WTP) says it’s expecting its full-year net profit to rise at least 20 per cent this year. The construction contracting group also today said it’s to commence a share buy-back program, to increase earnings per share and value to shareholders.
Lend Lease Limited (ASX:LLC) has a new chief financial officer. Tony Lombardo took the reigns from Brad Soller today, after four years as the company’s group head os strategy and mergers and acquisitions.
And Virgin Australia Holdings (ASX:VAH) and Singapore Airlines started their new alliance today, with services to Darwin from Singapore and Sydney. Singapore’s subsidiary SilkAir will fly four times a week from Singapore to Darwin, starting March, and Virgin will fly daily from Sydney to Darwin from April.
Sectors and stocks

All sectors were in the red, except for consumer staples, up 11 points to 7,621. The worst performing sector was energy, down 293 points, closing at 13,415.
The best performing stock in the S&P/ASX200 was Qube Logistics, it rose 2.87 per cent to close at $1.43.5 cents. Shares in Pacific Brands and Envestra also finished stronger today.
The worst performing stock was Aquarius as we saw earlier, it closed at $2.50, followed by Medusa and Aquila.
IPOs

Fairfax Media’s former Trade Me Group (ASX:TME) started trading on its own today, it listed at $2.70, opened at $2.20 and closed at $2.21.
Commodities

The price of gold is $US1,655.90 an ounce and Light crude is up six cents at $US97.83 a barrel.

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