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Fridays. Usually boring, usually pretty predictable (action in the a.m., torpor in the p.m.). Usually schmusually. Today was nothing special - except for a quiet insight from an English chum that gave me food for thought. The aforementioned English chum is a strait-laced sort of fellow - not given to tin-foil-hatted stuff like me.
His sources (he is the sort of chap who has sources as a result of his line of work) tell him that Mr Menezes was scared not because of a loud challenge from some armed police, but because he knew he was going to be killed. He wasn't in danger as a result of anything he had done, but for seeing something he oughtn't have seen, at a place in his apartment block that he had the misfortune to be outside when things were done that governments genuinely like to keep quiet about.
So the B-Liar
government - like all governments - has a "wet" team. I'm not shocked -
most governments have several: apparently an important part of
'democracy' is a clique of pet psychopaths who have no compunction
about killing people when ordered to do so... and killing more people
if required, to cover their tracks. It is this latter group of victims
into which poor Mr Menezes' stumbled.
Wrong place, wrong time. Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang bang. (Or more accurately, tiw, tiw, tiw, tiw , tiw, tiw, tiw , tiw - the weapons used had silencers).
Nice way to get the Norse God for whom Tuesday is named into a story,
even if it's not quite phonetically accurate in describing the firing
sound of a silenced Glock (Tiw is an Old English variant spelling of the Old Norse Tyr... and he was a god of War).
Why would a wet team be working in Mr Menezes' building? Does the (Israeli-provided) training for these 'specialists' extend to extra-judicial killing? If so, on whose authoritaah?
This story has the potential to
open up - but I doubt that it will, ever. Folks simply can't get their
heads around the idea that their political leaders are psychopaths who
don't give a flying monkey's ass about having citizens killed, so long
as they can keep hold of power.
Major Market Indices
The broad market - the ASX All Ordinaries (XAO) - rose by 17.60 points (0.41%), finishing at 4346.70 points. The index hit an intraday high of 4351.20 (4350-ish) and its low was 4329.1 (4325-ish). The low was registered at the open, and the high was actually touched twice - once just after 11:35 a.m., and once at 3:10 p.m. Sydney time. It was very nearly hit again at 3:55, but fell less than half a point short before the last-second dip to the close.
The
reason for the apparent vacillation today, is that nobody is prepared
to buy the market up through 4400 (XJO) and 4350 (XAO) until Wall
Street gives them the confidence to do so. In other words, the market
has nothing to do with fundamentals anymore - it's just 'pass the
parcel'. That's fine so long as you realise that's what it actually is,
but bear in mind that the super-funds that will show good results from
buying loads of beta on the way up, will be stuck (like BT was with ONE) overloaded with shit in their portfolios if the market suddenly turns sour.
Given that another little piece of scuttlebutt doing the rounds recently is that there will be another Reichstag Fire
in August so that the US can bomb Iran (even though Iran will not be
an obvious perpetrator), a sour market might just be on the cards.
Cheney apparently just has a yearning, deep in his groinal area, to
nuke Isfahan. It probably stems from the same deep-seated inhumanity that helps he and Opus Dei whackball Antonin Scalia
feel macho when they stand and shoot ducks which are released right in
front of them. I hope the prick dies of a heart attack the day before
his plan is put into action, just to deprive him of his sadistic rush.
Total volume traded on the ASX was strong at 1.12 billion units, 11.3% above its 10-day average. Of the 483 stocks in the All Ords index, 231 rose while 132 fell. Volume was tilted in favour of the gainers by a margin of 3.8:1, with 402.03 million shares traded in gainers while 104.95 million shares traded in the day's losers.
The Index that forms the cash basis for the SFE's Share Price Index Futures - the S&P/ASX 200 (XJO)
- rose by 21.00 points (0.48%), finishing at 4388.80 points. It
vacillated between 4385 and 4395 for pretty much the entire day.
The "heavy hitters" of the Australian market - the ASX 20 Leaders (XTL) - rose by 11.10 points (0.47%), finishing at 2355.90 points. Within the index members, there were 16 that rose, and 4 losers. Total volume in rising issues within the ASX20 amounted to 139.59 while volume in the losers totalled 21.76m units.
The major winners in the "big guns" were -
- Rio Tinto (RIO), +$1.210 (2.52%) to $49.190 on volume of 7.15m shares;
- Woolworths (WOW), +$0.330 (2.05%) to $16.420 on volume of 5.09m shares;
- Westfield Group (WDC), +$0.300 (1.69%) to $18.000 on volume of 9.72m shares;
- Alumina (AWC), +$0.090 (1.57%) to $5.830 on volume of 5.25m shares; and
- BHP Billiton (BHP), +$0.250 (1.31%) to $19.400 on volume of 28.13m shares.
The following stocks made up the biggest percentage losers in the big-guns:
- Wesfarmers (WES), -$0.50 (1.23%) to $40.02 on volume of 2.29m shares;
- News Corporation (NWS), -$0.21 (0.91%) to $22.98 on volume of 8.03m shares;
- News Corporation (NWSLV), -$0.16 (0.73%) to $21.70 on volume of 2.55m shares; and
- National Australia Bank (NAB), -$0.14 (0.45%) to $31.26 on volume of 8.89m shares.
At the smaller end of the market's capitalisation scale, the ASX Small Ordinaries Index (XSO) rose by 12.80 points (0.52%), finishing at 2460.00 points. The major winners in the "pop-guns" were -
- Chemeq (CMQ), +$0.180 (14.63%) to $1.410 on volume of 2.6m shares;
- Psivida (PSD), +$0.070 (8.81%) to $0.865 on volume of 1.5m shares; and
- Beach Petroleum (BPT), +$0.045 (6.62%) to $0.725 on volume of 3.21m shares; and
- Croesus Mining (CRS), +$0.015 (4.35%) to $0.360 on volume of 1.76m shares; and
- Kresta Holdings (KRS), +$0.010 (4.17%) to $0.250 on volume of 69,000 shares.
The losingest-little-guys for the session were (in order of decline):
- ERG (ERG), -$0.020 (7.69%) to $0.240 on volume of 13.88m shares;
- Emperor Mines (EMP), -$0.020 (6.06%) to $0.310 on volume of 6,000 shares; and
- Kagara Zinc (KZL), -$0.060 (4.84%) to $1.180 on volume of 424,000 shares; and
- Vision Systems (VSL), -$0.050 (3.97%) to $1.210 on volume of 829,000 shares; and
- Sydney Gas Ltd (SGL), -$0.020 (3.77%) to $0.510 on volume of 1.49m shares.
| Index Changes | |||||
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| XAO | All Ordinaries | 4346.7 | 17.6 | 0.41% | 664.53m |
| XTL | S&P/ASX 20 | 2355.9 | 11.1 | 0.47% | 161.35m |
| XFL | S&P/ASX 50 | 4322.1 | 19.6 | 0.46% | 277.61m |
| XTO | S&P/ASX 100 | 3564.3 | 17.1 | 0.48% | 413.4m |
| XJO | S&P/ASX 200 | 4388.8 | 21 | 0.48% | 499.38m |
| XKO | S&P/ASX 300 | 4382 | 21.2 | 0.49% | 0 |
| XMD | S&P/ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 4270.9 | 27.2 | 0.64% | 0 |
| XSO | S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries | 2460 | 12.8 | 0.52% | 212.17m |
All Ordinaries Market Internals
| Market Breadth | ||||||
| ASX20 | XTO | XJO | XAO | XSO | Market | |
| Advances | 16 | 71 | 130 | 231 | 101 | 532 |
| Declines | 4 | 22 | 49 | 132 | 56 | 352 |
| Advancing Volume | 139.59m | 336.2m | 375.76m | 402.03 | 78.69 | 688.45 |
| Declining Volume | 21.76m | 53.35m | 71.17m | 104.95 | 38.51 | 215.59 |
S&P/ASX200 GICS Sector Indices
The top sector for the day was XMJ Materials which gained 1.37% to 7780.30 points. The sector was helped by
- Lihir Gold (LHG), +$0.055 (4.42%) to $1.300 on volume of 22.37m shares;
- Croesus Mining (CRS), +$0.015 (4.35%) to $0.360 on volume of 1.76m shares;
- Paperlinx (PPX), +$0.130 (3.82%) to $3.530 on volume of 2.73m shares;
- Sims Group (SMS), +$0.500 (3.23%) to $16.000 on volume of 302,000 shares; and
- Zinifex (ZFX), +$0.100 (3.23%) to $3.200 on volume of 4.49m shares.
Second in the sector leadership stakes was XPJ Property Trusts which gained 1.35% to 1839.00 points. The sector leaders were -
- Multiplex Group (MXG), +$0.090 (3.04%) to $3.050 on volume of 9.29m shares;
- Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust (BWP), +$0.055 (3.01%) to $1.885 on volume of 194,000 shares;
- General Property Trust (GPT), +$0.080 (2.14%) to $3.820 on volume of 11.65m shares;
- Commonwealth Property Office Fund (CPA), +$0.025 (1.95%) to $1.305 on volume of 5.46m shares; and
- Macquarie Countrywide Trust (MCW), +$0.035 (1.86%) to $1.915 on volume of 5.19m shares.
The bronze today went toXSJ Consumer Staples which gained 0.89% to 5678.90 points. The sector was led by
- Woolworths (WOW), +$0.330 (2.05%) to $16.420 on volume of 5.09m shares;
- Coca-Cola Amatil (CCL), +$0.090 (1.16%) to $7.840 on volume of 1.78m shares;
- Foodland Associated (FOA), +$0.300 (1.11%) to $27.300 on volume of 441,000 shares;
- Coles Myer Ltd (CML), +$0.070 (0.75%) to $9.460 on volume of 5.04m shares; and
- Lion Nathan (LNN), +$0.050 (0.68%) to $7.410 on volume of 527,000 shares.
The worst-performed sector today was XHJ Healthcare which lost 0.37% to 5423.70 points. The sector was dragged lower by
- CSL (CSL), -$0.570 (1.61%) to $34.820 on volume of 1.39m shares;
- DCA Group (DVC), -$0.060 (1.5%) to $3.930 on volume of 3.32m shares;
- Cochlear (COH), -$0.380 (0.93%) to $40.440 on volume of 355,000 shares;
- Sigma Company (SIG), -$0.080 (0.85%) to $9.350 on volume of 147,000 shares; and
- Peptech (PTD), -$0.010 (0.62%) to $1.600 on volume of 487,000 shares.
Just in front of last place on the sector table was XNJ Industrials which lost a scant 0.04% to 5180.40 points. The sector was pulled down by
- Adsteam Marine (ADZ), -$0.030 (1.44%) to $2.060 on volume of 151,000 shares;
- Wesfarmers (WES), -$0.500 (1.23%) to $40.020 on volume of 2.29m shares;
- Corporate Express Australia (CXP), -$0.050 (0.82%) to $6.050 on volume of 103,000 shares;
- Qantas Airways (QAN), -$0.020 (0.6%) to $3.320 on volume of 7.32m shares; and
- Patrick Corporation (PRK), -$0.030 (0.51%) to $5.800 on volume of 1.85m shares.
| Sector Indices | |||||
| Code | GICS Sector | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| XMJ | Materials | 7780.3 | 105.4 | 1.37% | 131.63m |
| XPJ | Property Trusts | 1839 | 24.5 | 1.35% | 97.72m |
| XSJ | Consumer Staples | 5678.9 | 49.9 | 0.89% | 43.65m |
| XFJ | Financials | 5174 | 18.2 | 0.35% | 166.71m |
| XIJ | Information Technology | 416.5 | 1.4 | 0.34% | 19.68m |
| XTJ | Telecommunications | 1802.8 | 4.5 | 0.25% | 16.87m |
| XUJ | Utilities | 4972.2 | 12.3 | 0.25% | 4.55m |
| XXJ | ASX200 Financials ex Property Trusts | 5276.7 | 4 | 0.08% | 78.71m |
| XEJ | Energy | 9729.5 | 1.3 | 0.01% | 33.86m |
| XDJ | Consumer Discretionary | 2295.7 | 0.1 | 0% | 34.86m |
| XNJ | Industrials | 5180.4 | -2 | -0.04% | 48.64m |
| XHJ | Healthcare | 5423.7 | -19.9 | -0.37% | 12.11m |
All Ordinaries Major Movers
| All Ords Volume Leaders | |||||
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| BHP | BHP Billiton | 19.4 | 0.25 | 1.31% | 28.13m |
| ADY | Admiralty Resources. | 0.13 | 0 | 0% | 24.51m |
| LHG | Lihir Gold | 1.3 | 0.06 | 4.42% | 22.37m |
| CUE | Cue Energy Resources | 0.28 | -0.04 | -12.5% | 15.45m |
| OSH | Oil Search | 3.36 | 0.06 | 1.82% | 14.53m |
| FGL | Foster's Group | 5.47 | 0.03 | 0.55% | 14.38m |
| All Ords Percentage Gainers | |||||
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| CMQ | Chemeq | 1.41 | 0.18 | 14.63% | 2.6m |
| EPT | Epitan | 0.49 | 0.06 | 12.64% | 2.03m |
| GGN | Gallery Gold | 0.38 | 0.04 | 10.14% | 2.81m |
| PSD | Psivida | 0.87 | 0.07 | 8.81% | 1.5m |
| BPT | Beach Petroleum | 0.73 | 0.05 | 6.62% | 3.21m |
| All Ords Percentage Decliners | |||||
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| LOK | Looksmart | 0.82 | -0.1 | -10.44% | 194182 |
| ERG | ERG | 0.24 | -0.02 | -7.69% | 13.88m |
| QPX | QPSX | 0.076 | -0.004 | -5% | 985978 |
| BTA | Biota Holdings | 0.49 | -0.03 | -4.9% | 419487 |
| KZL | Kagara Zinc | 1.18 | -0.06 | -4.84% | 423563 |
Elsewhere in the Region...
| Regional Indices | |||||
| Country | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| New Zealand | NZSE50 | 3359.279 | 2.36 | 0.07% | 38.06m |
| Japan | Nikkei 225 | 11899.6 | 41.29 | 0.35% | 0 |
| Korea | KOSPI | 1111.29 | 6.57 | 0.59% | 536449 |
| Singapore | Straits Times | 2341.55 | -4.64 | -0.2% | 0 |
| Hong Kong | Hang Seng | 14876.52 | 63.2 | 0.43% | 212.57m |
| Malaysia | KLSE Comp | 936.8 | 2.42 | 0.26% | 0 |
