Note - from June 24th 2009, this blog has migrated from Blogger to a self-hosted version. Click here to go straight there.
Sometimes processes that are supposed to be linear (binary-linear, in fact) are so complex that they develop non-linear characteristics. Take my data-retriever; it's a little PHP app/page that grabs a bunch of data and stores it in a mySQL database, from which the RantCharts in the RantBoxes are built.
This little PHP page has worked just Jim-Dandy since the day I built the damned thing... until today.
No changes server-side (no
upgrades to PHP or mySQL, for example). No explanation whatsoever. File
uncorrupted (I deleted it and reloaded a fresh copy just in case) - the
arse-ing thing just refused to work properly. And all the time my main
RantPC (the site development one) is grinding away like a medieval
mill-wheel (and making about the same level of noise). This, I don't
like - yet now it's completely silent.
Long story short: charts will have yesterday's data until about 7 p.m. tonight, by which time I will have hand-loaded the data.
Oh well, at least there's an upside - that filthy fat maggot Karl Rove is going to be some convict's bitch for the next 20 years (or George the Turd PUS
is going to have to pardon him, which will encourage impeachment
proceedings). We ought to impeach our own flabby inbred toad (Downer)
and George the Turd's pet chimpanzee, Howard,
too. Then we ought to put them in a maximum security prison, so that
they can get a sense of what it feels like to be an ordinary taxpayer
(i.e., having someone probe your orifices at will, under threat of
violence).
Major Market Indices
The broad market - the ASX All Ordinaries -
rose by 15.10 points (0.36%), finishing at 4240.20 points thanks to a little bump up at the close. The index
hit an intraday high of 4240.70 (just after 11:30 a.m. - way before the close), and
its low was 4225.1, set a few minutes after the open. Between 11:30
a.m. and the closing bell, the All Ords trade in a range of less than 5
points. If that isn't specifically designed to bore people to death, I
don't know what is.
Despite the mind-numbing boredom, total volume traded on the ASX was pretty solid, at a tad over 900 million units, 4.2% above its 10-day average. Of the 483 stocks in the All Ords, 200 rose while 156 fell. Volume was tilted in favour of the gainers by a margin of 1.4:1, with 228.93 million shares traded in gainers while 167.06 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 - rose by 18.20 points (0.43%), finishing at 4280.30 points.
The "heavy hitters" of the Australian market - the ASX 20 Leaders - rose by 10.60 points (0.46%), finishing at 2301.10 points. Within the index members, there were 14 that rose, and 6 losers. Total volume in rising issues within the ASX20 amounted to 71.56 while volume in the losers totalled 22.41m units.
The major winners in the "big guns" were -
- QBE Insurance Group (QBE), +$0.27 (1.69%) to $16.25 on volume of 3.21m shares;
- AMP Limited (AMP), +$0.09 (1.4%) to $6.51 on volume of 6.14m shares; and
- Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (CBA), +$0.34 (0.89%) to $38.34 on volume of 2.89m shares; and
- St George Bank (SGB), +$0.20 (0.78%) to $25.84 on volume of 549,000 shares; and
- BHP Billiton (BHP), +$0.13 (0.7%) to $18.73 on volume of 12.08m shares.
The following stocks made up the biggest percentage losers in the big-guns:
- Woodside Petroleum (WPL), -$0.10 (0.34%) to $28.90 on volume of 1.59m shares;
- Coles Myer Ltd (CML), -$0.03 (0.32%) to $9.21 on volume of 3.47m shares; and
- News Corporation (NWSLV), -$0.07 (0.32%) to $21.81 on volume of 3.97m shares; and
- Amcor (AMC), -$0.02 (0.3%) to $6.75 on volume of 2.13m shares; and
- Foster's Group (FGL), down a cent (0.19%) to $5.31 on volume of 5.58m shares.
At the smaller end of the market's capitalisation scale, the ASX Small Ordinaries Index rose by 4.70 points (0.20%), finishing at 2354.10 points. The major winners in the "pop-guns" were -
- Emperor Mines (EMP), +$0.035 (13.21%) to $0.30 on volume of 147,000 shares;
- Primelife Corporation (PLF), +$0.055 (6.15%) to $0.95 on volume of 232,000 shares; and
- Antares Energy (AZZ), +$0.025 (5.81%) to $0.455 on volume of 377,000 shares; and
- Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust (BWP), +$0.09 (4.84%) to $1.95 on volume of 274,000 shares; and
- Energy Developments (ENE), +$0.18 (4.59%) to $4.10 on volume of 469,000 shares.
The losingest-little-guys for the session were (in order of decline):
- ERG (ERG), -$0.035 (11.29%) to $0.278 on volume of 15.37m shares;
- Multiemedia (MUL), -$0.001 (6.67%) to $0.014 on volume of 5.52m shares; and
- Sai Global (SAI), -$0.11 (4.3%) to $2.45 on volume of 51,000 shares; and
- UXC (UXC), -$0.035 (4.27%) to $0.785 on volume of 59,000 shares; and
- Norwood Abbey (NAL), -$0.015 (4.17%) to $0.345 on volume of 167,000 shares.
| Index Changes | |||||
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| XAO | All Ordinaries | 4240.2 | 15.1 | 0.36% | 506.43m |
| XTL | S&P/ASX 20 | 2301.1 | 10.6 | 0.46% | 93.97m |
| XFL | S&P/ASX 50 | 4225.9 | 17.9 | 0.43% | 187.4m |
| XTO | S&P/ASX 100 | 3481.3 | 15 | 0.43% | 329.41m |
| XJO | S&P/ASX 200 | 4280.3 | 18.2 | 0.43% | 409.73m |
| XKO | S&P/ASX 300 | 4272.2 | 17.6 | 0.41% | 0 |
| XMD | S&P/ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 4146.5 | 19.7 | 0.48% | 0 |
| XSO | S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries | 2354.1 | 4.7 | 0.2% | 136.78m |
All Ordinaries Market Internals
| Market Breadth | ||||||
| ASX20 | XTO | XJO | XAO | XSO | Market | |
| Advances | 14 | 65 | 111 | 200 | 78 | 448 |
| Declines | 6 | 26 | 59 | 156 | 70 | 406 |
| Advancing Volume | 71.56m | 193.16m | 218.1m | 228.93 | 39.38 | 459.38 |
| Declining Volume | 22.41m | 93.52m | 119.43m | 167.06 | 58.92 | 349.52 |
S&P/ASX200 GICS Sector Indices
The top sector for the day was ASX200 Financials ex Property Trusts which gained 0.64% to 5150.90 points. The sector was helped by
- Perpetual Trustees Australia (PPT), +$1.40 (2.4%) to $59.75 on volume of 69,000 shares;
- Challenger Financial Services Group (CGF), +$0.07 (2.28%) to $3.14 on volume of 929,000 shares; and
- QBE Insurance Group (QBE), +$0.27 (1.69%) to $16.25 on volume of 3.21m shares; and
- Australian Stock Exchange (ASX), +$0.39 (1.68%) to $23.60 on volume of 341,000 shares; and
- AMP Limited (AMP), +$0.09 (1.4%) to $6.51 on volume of 6.14m shares.
Second in the sector leadership stakes was Energy which gained 0.50% to 9485.20 points (despite a drop in Woodside). The sector leaders were -
- Oil Search (OSH), +$0.13 (4.01%) to $3.37 on volume of 6.86m shares;
- Worleyparsons (WOR), +$0.15 (2.01%) to $7.63 on volume of 362,000 shares; and
- Tap Oil (TAP), +$0.04 (1.6%) to $2.54 on volume of 894,000 shares; and
- Hardman Resources (HDR), +$0.03 (1.3%) to $2.34 on volume of 2.49m shares; and
- Origin Energy (ORG), +$0.09 (1.23%) to $7.41 on volume of 995,000 shares.
The bronze today went to Financials which gained 0.49% to 5064.70 points. The sector was led by
- Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust (BWP), +$0.09 (4.84%) to $1.95 on volume of 274,000 shares;
- Perpetual Trustees Australia (PPT), +$1.40 (2.4%) to $59.75 on volume of 69,000 shares; and
- Challenger Financial Services Group (CGF), +$0.07 (2.28%) to $3.14 on volume of 929,000 shares; and
- Valad Property Group (VPG), +$0.03 (2.2%) to $1.40 on volume of 1.33m shares; and
- QBE Insurance Group (QBE), +$0.27 (1.69%) to $16.25 on volume of 3.21m shares.
The worst-performed sector today was Information Technology which lost a scant 0.08% to 379.00 points. The sector was dragged lower by
- ERG (ERG), -$0.04 (11.29%) to $0.28 on volume of 15.37m shares;
- Baycorp Advantage (BCA), -$0.07 (2.35%) to $2.91 on volume of 382,000 shares;
- Vision Systems (VSL), -$0.02 (1.8%) to $1.09 on volume of 706,000 shares;
- MYOB (MYO), -$0.01 (0.96%) to $1.03 on volume of 481,000 shares; and
- IRESS Market Technology (IRE), -$0.00 (0%) to $4.14 on volume of 100,000 shares.
Just in front of last place on the sector table was Property Trusts which lost a teensy 0.07% to 1818.10 points. The sector was pulled down by
- General Property Trust (GPT), -$0.05 (1.3%) to $3.79 on volume of 5.66m shares;
- Centro Properties Group (CNP), -$0.05 (0.91%) to $5.42 on volume of 1.99m shares; and
- Macquarie Prologis Trust (MPR), -$0.01 (0.87%) to $1.14 on volume of 2.39m shares; and
- Macquarie Ddr Trust (MDT), -$0.01 (0.42%) to $1.19 on volume of 7.72m shares; and
- Mirvac Group (MGR), -$0.01 (0.26%) to $3.79 on volume of 3.29m shares.
| Sector Indices | |||||
| Code | GICS Sector | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| XXJ | ASX200 Financials ex Property Trusts | 5150.9 | 33 | 0.64% | 54.01m |
| XEJ | Energy | 9485.2 | 47.5 | 0.5% | 18.87m |
| XFJ | Financials | 5064.7 | 24.5 | 0.49% | 156.77m |
| XNJ | Industrials | 5088.8 | 24.4 | 0.48% | 41.32m |
| XHJ | Healthcare | 5357.3 | 23.4 | 0.44% | 8.74m |
| XMJ | Materials | 7444.4 | 32.1 | 0.43% | 93.88m |
| XTJ | Telecommunications | 1782.8 | 6 | 0.34% | 23.63m |
| XUJ | Utilities | 4962.2 | 14.4 | 0.29% | 4.28m |
| XDJ | Consumer Discretionary | 2243.8 | 6.5 | 0.29% | 30.74m |
| XSJ | Consumer Staples | 5563.1 | 8.1 | 0.15% | 32.91m |
| XPJ | Property Trusts | 1818.1 | -1.2 | -0.07% | 105.46m |
| XIJ | Information Technology | 379 | -0.3 | -0.08% | 18.37m |
All Ordinaries Major Movers
| All Ords Volume Leaders | |||||
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| DYL | Deep Yellow | 0.115 | -0.025 | -17.86% | 34.33m |
| TLS | Telstra Corporation | 5.01 | 0.01 | 0.2% | 22.67m |
| TTS | Tattersall's (yay!) | 3.35 | 0.08 | 2.45% | 18.99m |
| LHG | Lihir Gold | 1.255 | -0.025 | -1.95% | 16.14m |
| ERG | ERG | 0.275 | -0.035 | -11.29% | 15.37m |
| BHP | BHP Billiton | 18.73 | 0.13 | 0.7% | 12.07m |
| All Ords Percentage Gainers | |||||
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| EPT | Epitan | 0.52 | 0.085 | 19.54% | 877306 |
| BLT | Benitec | 0.155 | 0.01 | 6.9% | 416300 |
| PLF | Primelife Corporation | 0.95 | 0.055 | 6.15% | 231590 |
| AZZ | Antares Energy | 0.455 | 0.025 | 5.81% | 376542 |
| BWP | Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust | 1.95 | 0.09 | 4.84% | 273986 |
| All Ords Percentage Decliners | |||||
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| ERG | ERG | 0.275 | -0.035 | -11.29% | 15.37m |
| MUL | Multiemedia | 0.014 | -0.001 | -6.67% | 5.52m |
| AGI | Ainsworth Game Technology | 0.64 | -0.04 | -5.88% | 227386 |
| SAI | Sai Global | 2.45 | -0.11 | -4.3% | 50830 |
| NAL | Norwood Abbey | 0.345 | -0.015 | -4.17% | 167000 |
Elsewhere in the Region...
Japan's Nikkei 225
fell 32.30 points (-0.28%)
to close at 11659.84 points - almost entirely due to a big snap down
(almost 30 points) within seconds of settlement. The index hit a high
of 11707.96 just after the open, and fell to 11659.65 points just after
10 a.m. Tokyo time. It bounced, but the final seconds saw a huge dip
back to within a hair's breadth of the low. The Nikkei is starting to
behave a little less 'round number' oriented, although the day's range
is still well-encapsulated by the phrase '11700-ish to 11650-ish'.
The Kiwi Market advanced 16.01 points (0.48%) to close at 3323.681 points. The index dipped a little just after the open, posting a session low of 3307.673 points at just before 9:30 NZ time. From there it was one-way traffic - albeit slower than a herd of sheep. Eventually the index hit a high of 3327.322 with about 10 minutes left to trade.
A total of 25 stocks within the NZSE50 rose, with volume in advancers totalling 18.2million units. Decliners numbered 13, and total volume traded in losers was 5.6million shares. Individual stocks that dud well included...
- APN News & Media (APN), +NZ$0.19 (3.45%) to NZ$5.70 on volume of 2,000 shares;
- AXA Asia Pacific (AXA), +NZ$0.11 (2.27%) to NZ$4.95 on volume of 23,000 shares;
- AMP Limited (AMP), +NZ$0.11 (1.56%) to NZ$7.16 on volume of 20,000 shares;
- Fisher & Paykel H (FPH), +NZ$0.05 (1.41%) to NZ$3.60 on volume of 1.33m shares;
- Promina Group (PMN), +NZ$0.07 (1.34%) to NZ$5.28 on volume of 90,000 shares; and
- Nuplex Industries (NPX), +NZ$0.06 (1.33%) to NZ$4.58 on volume of 73,000 shares.
After an early dip (to 14140.40 points) in the first half-hour, Hong Kong's Hang Seng index advanced 53.60 points (0.38%) to 14200.55 at lunch. The index hit a high of 14212.42 about a half an hour before the lunch bell.
Within the Hang Seng, 22 index components rose, while just 5 index components fell. Volume in the gainers in Hong Kong's big-cap index totalled 97million units, and total volume traded in losers was 14.6million shares. Individual stocks that contributed to the advance included...
- Lenovo Group (0992), +HK$0.05 (2.17%) to HK$2.35 on volume of 23.3m shares;
- Cheung Kong (0001), +HK$1.50 (1.98%) to HK$77.25 on volume of 10.88m shares;
- Wheelock (0020), +HK$0.20 (1.58%) to HK$12.85 on volume of 771,000 shares;
- Swire Pacific A (0019), +HK$1.10 (1.56%) to HK$71.75 on volume of 1.39m shares;
- Henderson Investments (0097), +HK$0.15 (1.4%) to HK$10.90 on volume of 494,000 shares; and
- Li & Fung (0494), +HK$0.20 (1.23%) to HK$16.45 on volume of 4.86m shares.
| Regional Indices | |||||
| Country | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
| New Zealand | NZSE50 | 3323.681 | 16.01 | 0.48% | 25.44m |
| Japan | Nikkei 225 | 11659.84 | -32.3 | -0.28% | 0 |
| Korea | KOSPI | 1050.16 | 6.28 | 0.6% | 734229 |
| Singapore | Straits Times | 2241.44 | 5.85 | 0.26% | 0 |
| Hong Kong | Hang Seng | 14200.55 | 53.6 | 0.38% | 176.64m |
| Malaysia | KLSE Comp | 914.74 | -0.98 | -0.11% | 0 |
