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Some things never change - for example the Friday Fade in the ASX market. The Australian market had a low-volume day for which 'dull' is simply too strong a word. Still, recent market action has been a bit like a butterfly on acid, so folks are probably pretty happy to have a dull day.
Oh... I'm back.
Major Market Indices
The broad market - the All Ordinaries (XAO) - advanced modestly, rising 38.9 points (0.59%), finishing at 6607.4 points. The index hit an intraday high just above 6600 almost immediately after the open, then sagged into the mid-session: the low for the day was 6584.1 - set at 1:20 pm and retested about an hour later, by which time everyone was well-entrenched at the pub and tucking into their eighth beer.
Total volume traded on the ASX was 1.47 billion units, almost 15% below its its 10-day average. In the ASX's daily listing of 3-digit FPO's there were 1474 different poker chips which traded (i.e., had non-zero trade volume). Of these, 608 issues rose, with volume in rising stocks totalling 711.8 million units. Conversely (or even contrariwise), 560 stocks were dragged below the Plimsoll line, with aggregate volume traded of 587.8 million shares.
Of the 487 All Ordinaries components, 211 rose while 199 fell. Volume was tilted in favour of the losers by a margin of 1.2:1, with 308.65 million shares traded in gainers while 365.65 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) - posted a modest rise of 24.1 points (0.37%), closing out the session at 6545.7 points.
The "heavy hitters" of the Australian market - the ASX 20 Leaders (XTL) - advanced by under a percent, adding 9.4 points (0.26%), closing out the session at 3588.2 points.
Among the 20 big guns, 8 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 10 closed lower for the session. The 21 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 180.83 million units; 8 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 32.87 million shares, while the 10 decliners had volume traded totalling 139.92 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Rio Tinto Limited (RIO), +$18.59 (16.39%) to $131.99 on volume of 8.1 million shares;
- National Australia Bank Limited (NAB), +$1.62 (3.84%) to $43.81 on volume of 9.2 million shares;
- Woodside Petroleum Limited (WPL), +$1.52 (2.83%) to $55.32 on volume of 1.9 million shares;
- St George Bank Limited (SGB), +$0.48 (1.3%) to $37.38 on volume of 2.2 million shares; and
- Suncorp-Metway Limited. (SUN), +$0.20 (1.06%) to $19.15 on volume of 1.6 million shares.
On the less salubrious side of the big-cap fence, the following stocks were the worst-performed within the index:
- BHP Billiton Limited (BHP), -$0.84 (1.94%) to $42.40 on volume of 39.2 million shares;
- Australia And New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), -$0.55 (1.93%) to $27.94 on volume of 10.8 million shares;
- Wesfarmers Limited (WES), -$0.66 (1.66%) to $39.15 on volume of 3 million shares;
- Brambles Limited (BXB), -$0.17 (1.37%) to $12.26 on volume of 16.4 million shares; and
- Telstra (Installment Receipts) (TLSCA), -$0.03 (0.93%) to $3.18 on volume of 17.7 million shares.
At the other end of the market-cap spectrum lie the denizens of the ASX Small Ordinaries (XSO) - the place where non-mania excess returns lie. The small end of the market significantly underperformed its large-cap counterpart. The Small Ords advanced by under a percent, adding 4.9 points (0.12%), closing out the session at 4033.7 points.
Among the stocks that make up the Small Caps index, 87 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 94 closed lower for the session.
The 197 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 235.8 million units: volume in the 87 gainers totalling 114.59 million shares, with trade totalling 97.86 million units in the index's 94 declining components. The major percentage gainers within the index were- Lynas Corporation Limited (LYC), +$0.09 (8.41%) to $1.16 on volume of 2.3 million shares;
- Flexigroup Limited (FXL), +$0.18 (7.2%) to $2.68 on volume of 472.1 thousand shares;
- Austal Limited (ASB), +$0.16 (6.02%) to $2.82 on volume of 683.3 thousand shares;
- Equinox Minerals Limited (EQN), +$0.30 (5.4%) to $5.86 on volume of 2.6 million shares; and
- Macarthur Coal Limited (MCC), +$0.38 (5.02%) to $7.95 on volume of 1.8 million shares.
In the red-zone of the little-stock index, the following list represents the biggest downers (in terms of percentage decline):
- Seek Limited (SEK), -$0.57 (6.55%) to $8.13 on volume of 1.9 million shares;
- Macmahon Holdings Limited (MAH), -$0.1 (5.12%) to $1.86 on volume of 2.3 million shares;
- TAP OIL Limited (TAP), -$0.12 (4.82%) to $2.37 on volume of 1.9 million shares;
- Wotif.com Holdings Limited (WTF), -$0.21 (3.58%) to $5.65 on volume of 220.6 thousand shares; and
- GRD Limited (GRD), -$0.08 (3.56%) to $2.17 on volume of 242.1 thousand shares.
Index Changes
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAO | All Ordinaries | 6607.4 | 38.9 | 0.59 | 737.3m |
| XTL | ASX 20 | 3588.2 | 9.4 | 0.26 | 180.8m |
| XFL | ASX 50 | 6353.7 | 17.7 | 0.28 | 289.6m |
| XTO | ASX 100 | 5284.6 | 21.1 | 0.4 | 446.6m |
| XJO | ASX 200 | 6545.7 | 24.1 | 0.37 | 597m |
| XKO | ASX 300 | 6567.2 | 24.1 | 0.37 | 681.8m |
| XMD | ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 6660.2 | 71.1 | 1.08 | 157m |
| XSO | ASX Small Ordinaries | 4033.7 | 4.9 | 0.12 | 235.2m |
Market Breadth
| ASX20 | XTO | XJO | XAO | XSO | Market | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advances | 8 | 47 | 91 | 210 | 87 | 608 |
| Declines | 10 | 46 | 91 | 199 | 94 | 560 |
| Advancing Volume | 32.9m | 174.6m | 237.4m | 307.9m | 114.6m | 711.8 million |
| Declining Volume | 139.9m | 250m | 312.3m | 365.6m | 97.9m | 587.8 million |
GICS Industry Indices
Among the 11 industry indices, it was pretty much even stevens, with a very slight lead to the duds... the 5 that had an "up" day were just shaded by the remaining 6 which didn't.
The best performing index was Information Technology (XIJ), which added 52.8 points (10.5%) to 555.7 points. There are only two stocks in this index and between them they traded a total of 4.92 million units. Both index components rose -
- Computershare Limited (CPU), +$0.96 (11.47%) to $9.33 on volume of 4.8 million shares; and
- Iress Market Technology Limited (IRE), +$0.05 (0.61%) to $8.30 on volume of 138.7 thousand shares.
Second in the index leadership stakes was Energy (XEJ), which gained 312 points (1.95%) to 16292.8 points. The 17 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 36.86 million units; 11 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 23.57 million shares, while the 6 decliners had volume traded totalling 13.29 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Oil Search Limited (OSH), +$0.26 (5.91%) to $4.66 on volume of 6.9 million shares;
- Paladin Resources Limited (PDN), +$0.33 (3.93%) to $8.73 on volume of 3.8 million shares;
- Straits Resources Limited (SRL), +$0.23 (3.59%) to $6.64 on volume of 1.5 million shares;
- Woodside Petroleum Limited (WPL), +$1.52 (2.83%) to $55.32 on volume of 1.9 million shares; and
- Origin Energy Limited (ORG), +$0.19 (2.12%) to $9.15 on volume of 1.6 million shares.
The bronze medal for today goes to Materials (XMJ), which climbed 244.2 points (1.61%) to 15454.1 points. The 42 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 161.45 million units; 23 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 78.82 million shares, while the 16 decliners had volume traded totalling 78.98 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Rio Tinto Limited (RIO), +$18.59 (16.39%) to $131.99 on volume of 8.1 million shares;
- Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG), +$5.90 (13.26%) to $50.41 on volume of 1.4 million shares;
- Lynas Corporation Limited (LYC), +$0.09 (8.41%) to $1.16 on volume of 2.3 million shares;
- Alumina Limited (AWC), +$0.40 (6.25%) to $6.80 on volume of 9 million shares; and
- Macarthur Coal Limited (MCC), +$0.38 (5.02%) to $7.95 on volume of 1.8 million shares.
The worst-performed index for the session was Consumer Staples (XSJ), which dipped 93 points (1.08%) to 8501.4 points. The 9 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 38.57 million units; The 6 decliners had volume traded totalling 28.57 million units, and 2 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 4.19 million shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Metcash Limited (MTS), -$0.1 (2.2%) to $4.45 on volume of 3 million shares;
- Lion Nathan Limited (LNN), -$0.09 (1%) to $8.90 on volume of 1 million shares;
- Coles Group Limited (CGJ), -$0.13 (0.84%) to $15.39 on volume of 10.7 million shares;
- Woolworths Limited (WOW), -$0.25 (0.77%) to $32.24 on volume of 2.5 million shares; and
- AWB Limited (AWB), -$0.02 (0.69%) to $2.86 on volume of 1.1 million shares.
Just missing out on the wooden spoon was Telecommunications (XTJ), which slid 17.5 points (1.04%) to 1663.6 points. The 4 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 55.79 million units; The 3 decliners had volume traded totalling 52.32 million units, and volume in the lone rising index component was 3.47 million shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Telecom Corporation Of New Zealand Limited (TEL), -$0.06 (1.65%) to $3.58 on volume of 3.7 million shares;
- Telstra (Installment Receipts) (TLSCA), -$0.03 (0.93%) to $3.18 on volume of 17.7 million shares; and
- Telstra Corporation Limited. (TLS), -$0.04 (0.85%) to $4.69 on volume of 30.9 million shares.
Third-to-last amongst the sector indices was Industrials (XNJ), which slid 63.3 points (0.9%) to 6957.3 points. The 32 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 91.26 million units; The 20 decliners had volume traded totalling 55.68 million units, and 10 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 33.52 million shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Seek Limited (SEK), -$0.57 (6.55%) to $8.13 on volume of 1.9 million shares;
- Macmahon Holdings Limited (MAH), -$0.1 (5.12%) to $1.86 on volume of 2.3 million shares;
- United Group Limited. (UGL), -$0.67 (3.24%) to $20.02 on volume of 448.7 thousand shares;
- Toll Holdings Limited (TOL), -$0.36 (2.68%) to $13.09 on volume of 1.6 million shares; and
- Corporate Express Australia Limited (CXP), -$0.17 (2.56%) to $6.48 on volume of 248.9 thousand shares.
Sector Indices
| Code | GICS Sector | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XIJ | Information Technology | 555.7 | 52.8 | 10.5 | 5m |
| XEJ | Energy | 16292.8 | 312 | 1.95 | 37m |
| XMJ | Materials | 15454.1 | 244.2 | 1.61 | 161m |
| XHJ | Healthcare | 9072.3 | 124 | 1.39 | 13m |
| XXJ | ASX200 Financials ex Property Trusts | 7506.2 | 7.9 | 0.11 | 62m |
| XDJ | Consumer Discretionary | 2694.9 | -5 | -0.19 | 34m |
| XUJ | Utilities | 6856 | -13.8 | -0.2 | 21m |
| XPJ | Property Trusts | 2323.2 | -5.2 | -0.22 | 79m |
| XNJ | Industrials | 6957.3 | -63.3 | -0.9 | 91m |
| XTJ | Telecommunications | 1663.6 | -17.5 | -1.04 | 56m |
| XSJ | Consumer Staples | 8501.4 | -93 | -1.08 | 39m |
All Ordinaries Major Movers
All Ords Volume Leaders
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHP | BHP Billiton Limited | 42.40 | -0.84 | -1.94 | 39.2m |
| TLS | Telstra Corporation Limited. | 4.69 | -0.04 | -0.85 | 30.9m |
| OXR | Oxiana Limited | 4.25 | 0.18 | 4.42 | 25.5m |
| TLSCA | Telstra (Installment Receipts) | 3.18 | -0.03 | -0.93 | 17.7m |
| BXB | Brambles Limited | 12.26 | -0.17 | -1.37 | 16.4m |
All Ords Percentage Gainers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIO | Rio Tinto Limited | 131.99 | 18.59 | 16.39 | 8.1m |
| FMG | Fortescue Metals Group Ltd | 50.41 | 5.90 | 13.26 | 1.4m |
| CPU | Computershare Limited | 9.33 | 0.96 | 11.47 | 4.8m |
| HER | Herald Resources Limited | 1.63 | 0.13 | 8.67 | 436.8k |
| PBD | Port Bouvard Limited | 2.14 | 0.17 | 8.63 | 273.5k |
All Ords Percentage Losers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOC | Bougainville Copper Limited | 1.35 | -0.15 | -10 | 81.3k |
| CUV | Clinuvel Pharmaceuticals Limited | 0.43 | -0.04 | -8.6 | 1.3m |
| NFL | Natural Fuel Limited | 0.20 | -0.02 | -7.14 | 765.9k |
| SEK | Seek Limited | 8.13 | -0.57 | -6.55 | 1.9m |
| AHD | Amalgamated Holdings Limited | 6.45 | -0.35 | -5.15 | 12.5k |
