Note - from June 24th 2009, this blog has migrated from Blogger to a self-hosted version. Click here to go straight there.
I am pretty sure I've found yet another shortcoming in the French language... what is the formal address to someone or something that you're never going to see again?
We can all be reasonably certain that we are not going to see 2007 again, so 'Au Revoir' (until again-seeing) is not right. The Frogs have their parting pleasantries centred on seeing the party of the second part at some future date... au revoir of course, but also à bientôt (until soon), à demain (until tomorrow), à tout à l'heure (until real soon), à tout de suite (see you in a few seconds). What you really want is something like, oh, I don't know... GOODBYE, 2007. But you would need English for that...
No wonder we win at everything, us Anglophones. Our language is far more efficient, because it is organic and anarchic - we take words where we find them, and we don't have some government-appointed set of cognoscenti who dictate grammar and vocabulary from on high (the French do - half the reason that their vocabulary is a third of English, and their grammar and syntax is still Latinate, unnecessarily complex and wasteful)
Now where was I? Oh yes... the Australian markets...
The final session - shortened as it was, so that the silvertails could get home without having to worry about the traffic - finished with less than a whimper. At the index and sector-index level, there was so little change across the board that you could use Friday's OzRant as a reference to the actual year-on-year changs for 2006-07 without too much fear of contradiction. That said, tomorrow I plan to post a reasonably complete dissection of the Year That Was.
Major Market Indices
The broad market - the All Ordinaries (XAO) - declined gently, dropping 2.7 points (0.04%), finishing at 6421 points. The index hit an intraday high of 6431.4 just before 1:15 p.m., while the low for the day was 6396.9 - set at 11:55 am.
Total volume traded on the ASX was 691.2 million units, well below its 10-day average - as might be expected for a half-day. The ASX's daily listing of all stocks included 1224 different 3-letter FPO's which traded (i.e., had non-zero trade volume). Of these, 553 issues rose, with volume in rising issues totalling 411 million units. 367 stocks fell for the session, with aggregate volume traded of 195 million shares.
Of the 487 All Ordinaries components, 215 rose while 152 fell. Aggregate volume within the All Ords was evenly split - 126.38 million shares traded in gainers while 125.97 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) - was so close to unchanged that I refuse to mention it. OK, I'll mention it. It fell 0.1 points. Consider it mentioned.
The "heavy hitters" of the Australian market - the ASX 20 Leaders (XTL) - slid modestly, falling 2.6 points (0.07%), closing out the session at 3492.3 points.
Among the 20 big guns, 8 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 7 closed lower for the session. The 21 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 29.62 million units; 8 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 10.59 million shares, while the 7 decliners had volume traded totalling 9.15 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Stockland Trust Stapled (SGP), +$0.19 (2.30%) to $8.42 on volume of 3.1 million shares;
- QBE Insurance Group Limited (QBE), +$0.34 (1.03%) to $33.34 on volume of 821.5 thousand shares;
- Westfield Group (WDC), +$0.15 (0.72%) to $21.00 on volume of 2 million shares;
- Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (CBA), +$0.22 (0.37%) to $59.10 on volume of 964.6 thousand shares;
- Suncorp-Metway Limited. (SUN), +$0.06 (0.36%) to $16.92 on volume of 1.2 million shares; and
- Telstra (Installment Receipts) (TLSCA), +$0.01 (0.32%) to $3.17 on volume of 2.6 million shares.
On the less salubrious side of the big-cap fence, the following stocks were the worst-performed within the index:
- St George Bank Limited (SGB), -$0.57 (1.77%) to $31.59 on volume of 1.4 million shares;
- BHP Billiton Limited (BHP), -$0.37 (0.91%) to $40.14 on volume of 3.4 million shares;
- Wesfarmers Limited (WES), -$0.25 (0.61%) to $40.50 on volume of 831.7 thousand shares;
- Brambles Limited (BXB), -$0.04 (0.35%) to $11.53 on volume of 1.1 million shares; and
- Australia And New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), -$0.06 (0.22%) to $27.46 on volume of 1.3 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-fry swam in the opposite direction to the big fish today - the big end of town went basically nowhere (but slightly negatively) while the minnows posted a gainwell . The Small Ords advanced by under a percent, adding 4.8 points (0.12%), closing out the session at 3845.4 points.
Among the stocks that make up the Small Caps index, 85 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 79 closed lower for the session.
The 197 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 86.9 million units: volume in the 85 gainers totalling 35.99 million shares, with trade totalling 38.18 million units in the index's 79 declining components. The major percentage gainers within the index were- McGuigan Simeon Wines Limited (MGW), +$0.22 (10.84%) to $2.25 on volume of 332.7 thousand shares;
- St Barbara Limited (SBM), +$0.06 (7.59%) to $0.78 on volume of 2.5 million shares;
- Challenger Diversified Property Group (CDI), +$0.07 (6.95%) to $1.00 on volume of 751.6 thousand shares;
- OceanaGold Corporation (OGC), +$0.18 (6.92%) to $2.78 on volume of 238.2 thousand shares; and
- Mirvac Industrial Trust (MIX), +$0.04 (6.06%) to $0.70 on volume of 353 thousand shares.
In the red-zone of the little-stock index, the following list represents the biggest downers (in terms of percentage decline):
- Centro Retail (CER), -$0.07 (6.4%) to $0.95 on volume of 6 million shares;
- UXC Limited (UXC), -$0.11 (5.74%) to $1.81 on volume of 304.6 thousand shares;
- Silex Systems Limited (SLX), -$0.29 (4.6%) to $6.01 on volume of 75.2 thousand shares;
- Australand Property Group (ALZ), -$0.1 (4.13%) to $2.32 on volume of 434.9 thousand shares; and
- PMP Limited (PMP), -$0.06 (3.22%) to $1.81 on volume of 74.4 thousand shares.
Index Changes
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAO | All Ordinaries | 6421 | -2.7 | -0.04 | 298.9m |
| XTL | ASX 20 | 3492.3 | -2.6 | -0.07 | 29.6m |
| XFL | ASX 50 | 6138.8 | 1.3 | 0.02 | 96.2m |
| XTO | ASX 100 | 5125.1 | -0.1 | 0 | 175.9m |
| XJO | ASX 200 | 6339.8 | -0.1 | 0 | 238.8m |
| XKO | ASX 300 | 6356.7 | 0.7 | 0.01 | 262.9m |
| XMD | ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 6594.6 | -8.9 | -0.13 | 79.7m |
| XSO | ASX Small Ordinaries | 3845.4 | 4.8 | 0.12 | 87m |
Market Breadth
| ASX20 | XTO | XJO | XAO | XSO | Market | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advances | 8 | 51 | 93 | 215 | 85 | 553 |
| Declines | 7 | 33 | 77 | 151 | 79 | 367 |
| Advancing Volume | 10.6m | 76.7m | 98.1m | 126.4m | 36m | 411 million |
| Declining Volume | 9.1m | 69.4m | 101.6m | 125.4m | 38.2m | 195 million |
GICS Industry Indices
Among the 11 industry indices, 9 registered an advance for the session, the remaining 2 lost ground.
The best performing index was Information Technology (XIJ), which added 9.8 points (1.73%) to 576.5 points. The 2 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 0.41 million units. The index components finished as follows...
- Computershare Limited (CPU), +$0.18 (1.86%) to $9.88 on volume of 303 thousand shares; and
- Iress Market Technology Limited (IRE), +$0.08 (1.01%) to $8.00 on volume of 104.2 thousand shares.
Second in the index leadership stakes was Utilities (XUJ), which gained 68.1 points (1.03%) to 6653.8 points. The 12 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 11.9 million units; 10 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 9.47 million shares, while sole declining stock traded 0 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Babcock & Brown Power (BBP), +$0.12 (4.62%) to $2.72 on volume of 4.4 million shares;
- Duet Group (DUE), +$0.06 (2.08%) to $2.95 on volume of 832.4 thousand shares;
- Sp Ausnet (SPN), +$0.02 (1.26%) to $1.21 on volume of 534.9 thousand shares;
- Energy Developments Limited (ENE), +$0.04 (1.04%) to $3.89 on volume of 227.2 thousand shares; and
- AGL Energy Limited (AGK), +$0.13 (0.99%) to $13.32 on volume of 250.5 thousand shares.
The bronze medal for today goes to Property Trusts (XPJ), which climbed 12.8 points (0.61%) to 2111.2 points. The 20 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 77.27 million units; 11 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 36.94 million shares, while the 8 decliners had volume traded totalling 36.88 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust (BWP), +$0.11 (4.93%) to $2.34 on volume of 200.7 thousand shares;
- Macquarie Countrywide Trust (MCW), +$0.05 (3.13%) to $1.65 on volume of 12.5 million shares;
- DB RREEF Trust (DRT), +$0.05 (2.56%) to $2.00 on volume of 4.1 million shares;
- Apn/Uka European Retail Property Group (AEZ), +$0.03 (2.56%) to $1.00 on volume of 1.2 million shares; and
- Valad Property Group (VPG), +$0.03 (2.38%) to $1.29 on volume of 2 million shares.
The worst-performed index for the session was Materials (XMJ), which dipped 86.7 points (0.57%) to 15016.5 points. The 42 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 47.69 million units; The 17 decliners had volume traded totalling 22.58 million units, and 21 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 20.94 million shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG), -$0.97 (11.45%) to $7.50 on volume of 7.9 million shares;
- James Hardie Industries N.V. (JHX), -$0.22 (3.3%) to $6.45 on volume of 809.3 thousand shares;
- Western Areas NL (WSA), -$0.17 (3.02%) to $5.45 on volume of 392.5 thousand shares;
- Minara Resources Limited (MRE), -$0.17 (2.66%) to $6.23 on volume of 268.8 thousand shares; and
- Mount Gibson Iron (MGX), -$0.07 (2.43%) to $2.81 on volume of 756.3 thousand shares.
Just missing out on the wooden spoon was Consumer Staples (XSJ), which slid 13.9 points (0.16%) to 8905.4 points. The 9 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 7.19 million units; The 3 decliners had volume traded totalling 3.93 million units, and 4 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 1.76 million shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (CCL), -$0.15 (1.56%) to $9.48 on volume of 2.2 million shares;
- Goodman Fielder Limited (GFF), -$0.02 (1.04%) to $1.90 on volume of 957.2 thousand shares; and
- Metcash Limited (MTS), -$0.03 (0.68%) to $4.35 on volume of 805.2 thousand shares.
Sector Indices
| Code | GICS Sector | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XIJ | Information Technology | 576.5 | 9.8 | 1.73 | 0m |
| XUJ | Utilities | 6653.8 | 68.1 | 1.03 | 12m |
| XPJ | Property Trusts | 2111.2 | 12.8 | 0.61 | 77m |
| XHJ | Healthcare | 9625.4 | 40 | 0.42 | 4m |
| XEJ | Energy | 15591.7 | 46.1 | 0.3 | 7m |
| XNJ | Industrials | 6538.9 | 18.3 | 0.28 | 25m |
| XDJ | Consumer Discretionary | 2713.2 | 4.3 | 0.16 | 28m |
| XTJ | Telecommunications | 1676.2 | 0.9 | 0.05 | 10m |
| XXJ | ASX200 Financials ex Property Trusts | 7156.6 | 3.1 | 0.04 | 20m |
| XSJ | Consumer Staples | 8905.4 | -13.9 | -0.16 | 7m |
| XMJ | Materials | 15016.5 | -86.7 | -0.57 | 48m |
All Ordinaries Major Movers
All Ords Volume Leaders
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNP | Centro Properties Group | 1.01 | -0.03 | -2.42 | 17.2m |
| MCW | Macquarie Countrywide Trust | 1.65 | 0.05 | 3.13 | 12.5m |
| PBL | Publishing & Broadcasting Limited | 20.80 | 0.00 | 0 | 8.7m |
| SGN | Stw Communications Group Limited | 2.35 | -0.03 | -1.26 | 8.2m |
| FMG | Fortescue Metals Group Ltd | 7.50 | -0.97 | -11.45 | 7.9m |
All Ords Percentage Gainers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HZN | HORIZON OIL NL | 0.42 | 0.05 | 12 | 1.3m |
| MGW | McGuigan Simeon Wines Limited | 2.25 | 0.22 | 10.84 | 332.7k |
| SEN | SENETAS CORPORATION | 0.08 | 0.01 | 7.89 | 389.2k |
| AFG | Allco Finance Group Limited | 6.20 | 0.44 | 7.64 | 1.7m |
| SBM | St Barbara Limited | 0.78 | 0.06 | 7.59 | 2.5m |
All Ords Percentage Losers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FMG | Fortescue Metals Group Ltd | 7.50 | -0.97 | -11.45 | 7.9m |
| AIM | Aim Resources Limited | 0.12 | -0.01 | -8 | 7.4m |
| CCV | Cash Converters International | 0.40 | -0.03 | -6.98 | 582.1k |
| CER | Centro Retail | 0.95 | -0.07 | -6.4 | 6m |
| UXC | UXC Limited | 1.81 | -0.11 | -5.74 | 304.6k |
