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Banks rebounded, but as usual the primary reason for the rise was external... Europe up, ergo (so the thinking goes) we ought to go up too. I tire of such nuffery, to be honest.
When this period of history is done and dusted, people will be flabbergasted that the average investor paid heed to soothing pabulum which issues from the very people whose entire lives are spent wheedling them out of their hard-earned money.
I guess the relationship between taxpayer and politician/bureaucrat is no different from that between host and parasite; there are many parasites that send chemical signals to their hosts - signals which make the host believe everything is just tickety-boo, while the parasite is busily sucking the life out of them. Lungowrms don't hold press conferences but they would if they could; politicians anaesthetise their victims with platitudes.
Anyhow... on to the numbers...
Major Market Indices
The broad market - the All Ordinaries (XAO) - advanced modestly, rising 54.6 points (0.97%), finishing at 5688.6 points. The index hit an intraday high of 5719.2 at 10:10 am, while the low for the day was the open at 5655.9 - but the post-opening low was at 1:30 p.m. Sydney time.
Total volume traded on the ASX was 1.23 billion units, still 7% below its 10-day average. The ASX's daily listing of all stocks included 1369 different 3-letter FPO's which traded (i.e., had non-zero trade volume). Of these, 546 issues rose, with volume in rising issues totalling 614.9 million units. Conversely (or even contrariwise), 524 stocks were dragged to a loss, with aggregate volume traded of 408.3 million shares.
Of the 478 All Ordinaries components, 215 rose while 193 fell. Volume was tilted in favour of the gainers by a margin of 1.5:1, with 395.68 million shares traded in gainers while 257.5 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) - managed a solid gain, adding 60.7 points (1.09%), closing out the session at 5619.1 points.
| Name | Close | +/-(%) |
|---|---|---|
| All Ordinaries | 5688.60 | 54.60 (1.0%) |
| ASX 50 | 5434.20 | 67.70 (1.3%) |
| ASX 200 | 5619.10 | 60.70 (1.1%) |
| ASX 300 | 5623.90 | 59.20 (1.1%) |
| ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 5879.50 | 31.50 (0.5%) |
| ASX Small Ordinaries | 3356.90 | 12.80 (0.4%) |
| ASX 20 | 3077.60 | 45.10 (1.5%) |
| ASX 100 | 4541.80 | 51.50 (1.1%) |
The "heavy hitters" of the Australian market - the ASX 20 Leaders (XTL) - performed solidly, in moving up 45.1 points (1.49%), closing out the session at 3077.6 points.
Among the 20 big guns, 16 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 4 closed lower for the session. The 21 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 148.22 million units; 16 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 97.16 million shares, while the 4 decliners had volume traded totalling 18.89 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- AMP Limited (AMP), +$0.30 (3.9%) to $8.00 on volume of 8.1 million shares;
- National Australia Bank Limited (NAB), +$0.97 (3.29%) to $30.48 on volume of 8.4 million shares;
- Westpac Banking Corporation (WBC), +$0.67 (2.98%) to $23.17 on volume of 7.6 million shares;
- Stockland (SGP), +$0.21 (2.86%) to $7.56 on volume of 2.8 million shares; and
- Macquarie Group Limited (MQG), +$1.50 (2.7%) to $57.00 on volume of 2 million shares.
On the less salubrious side of the big-cap fence, the following stocks were the worst-performed within the index:
- Wesfarmers Limited (WES), -$1.56 (4.05%) to $36.96 on volume of 3.5 million shares;
- Brambles Limited (BXB), -$0.19 (1.91%) to $9.78 on volume of 3.4 million shares;
- Foster's Group Limited (FGL), -$0.08 (1.37%) to $5.78 on volume of 8.8 million shares; and
- QBE Insurance Group Limited (QBE), -$0.22 (0.81%) to $26.84 on volume of 3.2 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 12.8 points (0.38%), closing out the session at 3356.9 points.
Among the stocks that make up the Small Caps index, 95 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 84 closed lower for the session.
The 192 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 225.43 million units: volume in the 95 gainers totalling 97.79 million shares, with trade totalling 100.68 million units in the index's 84 declining components. The major percentage gainers within the index were- Boom Logistics Limited (BOL), +$0.23 (29.87%) to $1.00 on volume of 6.3 million shares;
- Perilya Limited (PEM), +$0.33 (22.76%) to $1.78 on volume of 5.6 million shares;
- Rubicon America Trust (RAT), +$0.03 (13.04%) to $0.26 on volume of 1.6 million shares;
- Apn/Uka European Retail Property Group (AEZ), +$0.07 (9.29%) to $0.77 on volume of 247.9 thousand shares; and
- Mincor Resources NL (MCR), +$0.27 (8.74%) to $3.36 on volume of 1 million shares.
In the red-zone of the little-stock index, the following list represents the biggest downers (in terms of percentage decline):
- Housewares International Limited (HWI), -$0.18 (9.51%) to $1.67 on volume of 181.3 thousand shares;
- Centro Retail (CER), -$0.03 (8.96%) to $0.31 on volume of 13.8 million shares;
- Mount Gibson Iron (MGX), -$0.25 (7.76%) to $2.97 on volume of 14.5 million shares;
- Australian Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (API), -$0.13 (7.34%) to $1.64 on volume of 330.4 thousand shares; and
- Sunland Group Limited (SDG), -$0.23 (6.12%) to $3.53 on volume of 602.2 thousand shares.
Index Changes
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAO | All Ordinaries | 5688.6 | 54.6 | 0.97 | 2865.6m |
| XFL | ASX 50 | 5434.2 | 67.7 | 1.26 | 1085m |
| XJO | ASX 200 | 5619.1 | 60.7 | 1.09 | 2450.7m |
| XKO | ASX 300 | 5623.9 | 59.2 | 1.06 | 2720.6m |
| XMD | ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 5879.5 | 31.5 | 0.54 | 760.7m |
| XSO | ASX Small Ordinaries | 3356.9 | 12.8 | 0.38 | 874.8m |
| XTL | ASX 20 | 3077.6 | 45.1 | 1.49 | 576.8m |
| XTO | ASX 100 | 4541.8 | 51.5 | 1.15 | 1845.7m |
Market Breadth
| ASX20 | XTO | XJO | XAO | XSO | Market | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advances | 16 | 61 | 61 | 215 | 95 | 546 |
| Declines | 4 | 30 | 31 | 192 | 84 | 524 |
| Advancing Volume | 97.2m | 281m | 281m | 395.7m | 97.8m | 614.9 million |
| Declining Volume | 18.9m | 134.4m | 135.5m | 252m | 100.7m | 408.3 million |
GICS Industry Indices
Among the 11 industry indices, 7 registered an advance for the session, the remaining 4 lost ground.
The best performing index was Property Trusts (XPJ), which added 43.1 points (2.38%) to 1853.9 points. The 20 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 114.44 million units; 15 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 65 million shares, while the 3 decliners had volume traded totalling 45.84 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- APN/UKA European Retail Property Group (AEZ), +$0.07 (9.29%) to $0.77 on volume of 247.9 thousand shares;
- Babcock&Brown Japan Property Trust (BJT), +$0.06 (4.74%) to $1.33 on volume of 4 million shares;
- Goodman Group (GMG), +$0.17 (3.88%) to $4.55 on volume of 5.1 million shares;
- GPT Group (GPT), +$0.14 (3.83%) to $3.80 on volume of 4.9 million shares; and
- Stockland (SGP), +$0.21 (2.86%) to $7.56 on volume of 2.8 million shares.
Second in the index leadership stakes was ASX200 Financials ex Property Trusts (XXJ), which gained 123.6 points (2.22%) to 5698.7 points. The 28 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 77.74 million units; 19 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 62.67 million shares, while the 8 decliners had volume traded totalling 14.89 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (AXA), +$0.44 (8.15%) to $5.84 on volume of 3.8 million shares;
- City Pacific Limited (CIY), +$0.13 (4.73%) to $2.88 on volume of 223.1 thousand shares;
- Perpetual Limited (PPT), +$2.07 (4.1%) to $52.57 on volume of 104.9 thousand shares;
- Henderson Group PLC (HGI), +$0.08 (4.06%) to $2.05 on volume of 1.6 million shares; and
- AMP Limited (AMP), +$0.30 (3.9%) to $8.00 on volume of 8.1 million shares.
The bronze medal for today goes to Materials (XMJ), which climbed 163.8 points (1.1%) to 14998.7 points. The 42 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 152.62 million units; 23 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 79.61 million shares, while the 17 decliners had volume traded totalling 67.14 million units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Perilya Limited (PEM), +$0.33 (22.76%) to $1.78 on volume of 5.6 million shares;
- Mincor Resources NL (MCR), +$0.27 (8.74%) to $3.36 on volume of 1 million shares;
- Dyno Nobel Limited (DXL), +$0.14 (6.51%) to $2.29 on volume of 12.7 million shares;
- Adelaide Brighton Limited (ABC), +$0.16 (4.76%) to $3.52 on volume of 663.2 thousand shares; and
- Kagara Zinc Limited (KZL), +$0.21 (4.57%) to $4.81 on volume of 1.3 million shares.
The worst-performed index for the session was Information Technology (XIJ), which dipped 7.4 points (1.49%) to 488.5 points. The 2 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 2.44 million units.
Just missing out on the wooden spoon was Consumer Staples (XSJ), which slid 66.8 points (0.85%) to 7789.1 points. The 10 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 34.04 million units; The 5 decliners had volume traded totalling 19.97 million units, and 5 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 14.07 million shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Wesfarmers Limited (WES), -$1.56 (4.05%) to $36.96 on volume of 3.5 million shares;
- Goodman Fielder Limited (GFF), -$0.08 (3.95%) to $1.83 on volume of 4.9 million shares;
- Foster's Group Limited (FGL), -$0.08 (1.37%) to $5.78 on volume of 8.8 million shares;
- AWB Limited (AWB), -$0.01 (0.45%) to $2.22 on volume of 532.7 thousand shares; and
- Metcash Limited (MTS), -$0.01 (0.24%) to $4.09 on volume of 2.2 million shares.
Third-to-last amongst the sector indices was Industrials (XNJ), which slid 14.9 points (0.26%) to 5608 points. The 30 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 66.63 million units; The 12 decliners had volume traded totalling 35.55 million units, and 17 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 25.38 million shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Boart Longyear Limited (BLY), -$0.08 (4.29%) to $1.68 on volume of 6.6 million shares;
- Australian Infrastructure Fund (AIX), -$0.08 (3.04%) to $2.55 on volume of 942 thousand shares;
- Transfield Services Limited (TSE), -$0.31 (3%) to $10.02 on volume of 814.7 thousand shares;
- Toll Holdings Limited (TOL), -$0.28 (2.81%) to $9.68 on volume of 2.9 million shares; and
- Crane Group Limited (CRG), -$0.37 (2.36%) to $15.30 on volume of 182.2 thousand shares.
Sector Indices
| Code | GICS Sector | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XPJ | Property Trusts | 1853.9 | 43.1 | 2.38 | 114m |
| XXJ | ASX200 Financials ex Property Trusts | 5698.7 | 123.6 | 2.22 | 78m |
| XMJ | Materials | 14998.7 | 163.8 | 1.1 | 153m |
| XUJ | Utilities | 6030.8 | 34.3 | 0.57 | 17m |
| XDJ | Consumer Discretionary | 2337.8 | 10.1 | 0.43 | 55m |
| XEJ | Energy | 14701.6 | 47.3 | 0.32 | 39m |
| XTJ | Telecommunications | 1686.1 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 58m |
| XHJ | Healthcare | 8498.8 | -1.1 | -0.01 | 12m |
| XNJ | Industrials | 5608 | -14.9 | -0.26 | 67m |
| XSJ | Consumer Staples | 7789.1 | -66.8 | -0.85 | 34m |
| XIJ | Information Technology | 488.5 | -7.4 | -1.49 | 2m |
All Ordinaries Major Movers
All Ords Volume Leaders
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLS | Telstra Corporation Limited. | 4.76 | 0.00 | 0 | 32.2m |
| CNP | Centro Properties Group | 0.54 | -0.10 | -15.08 | 31.9m |
| TLSCA | Telstra (Installment Receipts) | 3.19 | 0.01 | 0.31 | 20.3m |
| OST | Onesteel Limited | 7.03 | -0.15 | -2.09 | 17.2m |
| OXR | Oxiana Limited | 3.38 | 0.10 | 3.05 | 16.8m |
All Ords Percentage Gainers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOL | Boom Logistics Limited | 1.00 | 0.23 | 29.87 | 6.3m |
| PEM | Perilya Limited | 1.78 | 0.33 | 22.76 | 5.6m |
| RAT | Rubicon America Trust | 0.26 | 0.03 | 13.04 | 1.6m |
| AEZ | Apn/Uka European Retail Property Group | 0.77 | 0.07 | 9.29 | 247.9k |
| REX | Regional Express Holdings Limited | 1.35 | 0.11 | 8.87 | 114.9k |
All Ords Percentage Losers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAA | Capral Aluminium Limited | 0.31 | -0.09 | -22.5 | 145.5k |
| CNP | Centro Properties Group | 0.54 | -0.10 | -15.08 | 31.9m |
| MFI | Mariner Financial Limited | 0.17 | -0.03 | -15 | 574.9k |
| HWI | Housewares International Limited | 1.67 | -0.18 | -9.51 | 181.3k |
| CER | Centro Retail | 0.31 | -0.03 | -8.96 | 13.8m |
