Note - from June 24th 2009, this blog has migrated from Blogger to a self-hosted version. Click here to go straight there.
Today I will keep the witticisms brief - last night was one of those 'up til 5 o'clock' jobbies (getting the subscription site almost-done, and re-instating subscriptions with a special offer), and then I got up at 8 to find that all my beloved scripts - the ones that prepare the Daily Genius that you behold - had fallen over in the night.
That's one of the things about server migration - little config items will bite you on the bum in a big way. This time it was the path to wget (and the fact that wget permissioning is set to off). That was really unhelpful, in that it stopped the collection of ASX stock code lists... and everything else hinges on those.
In the ordinary course of events, I would have simply moved to the beige monster - an old machine on which I do all development (I do dev on an old machine in order to be thrilled to bits when my stuff is five or six times as fast on the production server). But that beast was occupied with the next venture - a quarterly economic forecast using the model I built back in the day (it is a replica of the Commonwealth Treasury's TRYM model as it stood at the time... doubtless the bureaucracy has made some negative improvements to their version in the intervening).
Anyway - "Beige Beast Unavailable" went the headline. All the cron jobs that were running on the new server (and would usually be running on BeigeBeast as well) were switched off on BB and falling over on the server.
Anyway - THAT is why this OzRant is late. It has nothing to do with me obsessively midwifing the Forums...
Speaking of the subscriber site (which still needs some functionality installed and checked - should be done tomorrow if I can find some pseudoephedrine today), I've gone for a subs model that only bills $35 ($A, too) up-front, with the balance of a 1-year subscription payable at the end of the first month. That gives people a low-cost way to establish whether the material is up to snuff, but also keeps out tyre-kickers. And former InvestorWeb clients - whose treatment by CBA was absolutely deplorable - get $100 off the annual rate. So as Molly Meldrum would say.. "Do yourself a favour"
Major Market Indices
The broad market - the All Ordinaries (XAO) - rose strongly, registering a gain of 79.9 points (1.59%), finishing at 5090.1 points. The index hit an intraday high of 5109.7 at 11:49 am, while the low for the day was the previous close.
In fact, the All Ords was above 5080 within ten minutes of the open, and was above 5100 before 10:30 a.m.; in other words, the entire rest of the session was utterly feh.
Total volume traded on the ASX was 1.13bn units, 5% above its 10-day average. The ASX's daily listing of all stocks included 1287 different 3-letter FPO's which traded (i.e., had non-zero trade volume). Of these, 577 issues rose, with volume in rising issues totalling 689.9m units; decliners numbered 417 counters, and between them they traded aggregate declining volume of 353.7m shares.
Of the 494 All Ordinaries components, 273 rose while 142 fell. Volume was tilted in favour of the gainers by a margin of 2.6:1, with 596.45m shares traded in gainers while 227.17m 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 83.5 points (1.69%), closing out the session at 5014.9 points.
| Name | Close | +/-(%) |
|---|---|---|
| All Ordinaries | 5090.10 | 79.90 (1.6%) |
| ASX 20 | 2831.40 | 39.60 (1.4%) |
| ASX 50 | 4904.10 | 73.40 (1.5%) |
| ASX 100 | 4062.20 | 65.80 (1.6%) |
| ASX 200 | 5014.90 | 83.50 (1.7%) |
| ASX 300 | 5008.40 | 82.40 (1.7%) |
| ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 4993.60 | 118.70 (2.4%) |
| ASX Small Ordinaries | 2872.20 | 53.80 (1.9%) |
The "heavy hitters" of the Australian market - the ASX 20 Leaders (XTL) - performed solidly, in moving up 39.6 points (1.42%), closing out the session at 2831.4 points.
Among the 20 big guns, 15 index components finished to the upside, and 4 closed lower for the session. The 20 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 144.44m units; rising volume amounted to 79.47m shares, while the 4 decliners had volume traded totalling 56.35m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Westfield Group (WDC), +$0.80 (5%) to $16.80 on volume of 4.9 million shares;
- Westpac Banking Corporation (WBC), +$0.98 (4.45%) to $22.98 on volume of 7.1 million shares;
- St George Bank (SGB), +$1.09 (3.8%) to $29.80 on volume of 1.3 million shares;
- Stockland (SGP), +$0.17 (3.57%) to $4.93 on volume of 5 million shares; and
- Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (CBA), +$1.27 (3.07%) to $42.65 on volume of 4.5 million shares.
On the less salubrious side of the big-cap fence, the following stocks were the worst-performed within the index:
- Telstra Corporation (TLS), -$0.08 (1.87%) to $4.20 on volume of 40.9 million shares;
- Suncorp-Metway (SUN), -$0.11 (0.85%) to $12.80 on volume of 3.5 million shares;
- Woodside Petroleum (WPL), -$0.36 (0.63%) to $56.64 on volume of 2.7 million shares; and
- BHP Billiton (BHP), -$0.15 (0.37%) to $40.00 on volume of 9.2 million shares.
At the other end of the market-cap spectrum sits the ASX Small Ordinaries (XSO). The small end of the market performed solidly, moving up 53.8 points (1.91%), closing out the session at 2872.2 points.
Among the stocks that make up the Small Caps index, 117 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 55 closed lower for the session.
The 195 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 254.28m units: volume in the 117 gainers totalling 157.37m shares, with trade totalling 86.75m units in the index's 55 declining components. The major percentage gainers within the index were- Jabiru Metals (JML), +$0.04 (12.07%) to $0.33 on volume of 3.7 million shares;
- GUD. Holdings (GUD), +$0.68 (10.63%) to $7.08 on volume of 416.7 thousand shares;
- PanAust Ltd (PNA), +$0.08 (10.13%) to $0.87 on volume of 9.9 million shares;
- Charter Hall Group (CHC), +$0.08 (9.8%) to $0.84 on volume of 833.7 thousand shares; and
- Spotless Group (SPT), +$0.27 (9.34%) to $3.16 on volume of 865.2 thousand shares.
In the red-zone of the little-stock index, the following list represents the biggest downers (in terms of percentage decline):
- Compass Resources (CMR), -$0.08 (10.27%) to $0.66 on volume of 1.1 million shares;
- Centro Properties Group (CNP), -$0.02 (9.09%) to $0.20 on volume of 17.3 million shares;
- Admiralty Resources NL (ADY), -$0.01 (8%) to $0.12 on volume of 10 million shares;
- Wattyl (WYL), -$0.09 (6.16%) to $1.30 on volume of 65.3 thousand shares; and
- Reverse Corp (REF), -$0.12 (6.09%) to $1.85 on volume of 87.2 thousand shares.
Index Changes
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAO | All Ordinaries | 5090.1 | 79.9 | 1.59 | 857.2m |
| XFL | ASX 50 | 4904.1 | 73.4 | 1.52 | 366.5m |
| XJO | ASX 200 | 5014.9 | 83.5 | 1.69 | 754.6m |
| XKO | ASX 300 | 5008.4 | 82.4 | 1.67 | 820.7m |
| XMD | ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 4993.6 | 118.7 | 2.43 | 199.9m |
| XSO | ASX Small Ordinaries | 2872.2 | 53.8 | 1.91 | 254.3m |
| XTL | ASX 20 | 2831.4 | 39.6 | 1.42 | 144.4m |
| XTO | ASX 100 | 4062.2 | 65.8 | 1.65 | 566.4m |
Market Breadth
| ASX20 | XTO | XJO | XAO | XSO | Market | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advances | 15 | 83 | 157 | 273 | 117 | 577 |
| Declines | 4 | 15 | 34 | 142 | 55 | 417 |
| Advancing Volume | 79.5m | 417.8m | 538.3m | 596.5m | 157.4m | 689.9m |
| Declining Volume | 56.4m | 130.6m | 191.1m | 227.2m | 86.7m | 353.7m |
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 Property Trusts (XPJ), which added 58.4 points (4.32%) to 1410.8 points. The 21 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 113.83m units; 18 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 88.47m shares, while the 2 decliners had volume traded totalling 20.6m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- ING Office Fund (IOF), +$0.11 (7.98%) to $1.42 on volume of 3.7 million shares;
- Macquarie Countrywide Trust (MCW), +$0.08 (7.43%) to $1.09 on volume of 6.2 million shares;
- Bunnings Warehouse Property Trust (BWP), +$0.12 (6.41%) to $1.91 on volume of 504.1 thousand shares;
- Goodman Group (GMG), +$0.18 (6.38%) to $3.00 on volume of 8 million shares; and
- Mirvac Group (MGR), +$0.15 (5.6%) to $2.83 on volume of 3.5 million shares.
Second in the index leadership stakes was Consumer Discretionary (XDJ), which gained 68.7 points (4.23%) to 1694.1 points. The 25 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 49.66m units; 23 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 41.82m shares, while sole declining stock traded 3.21m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- GUD. Holdings (GUD), +$0.68 (10.63%) to $7.08 on volume of 416.7 thousand shares;
- Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group (MCG), +$0.26 (9.56%) to $2.98 on volume of 2.9 million shares;
- Seven Network (SEV), +$0.52 (6.95%) to $8.00 on volume of 842.5 thousand shares;
- APN News & Media (APN), +$0.20 (6.45%) to $3.30 on volume of 867.6 thousand shares; and
- Tatts Group (TTS), +$0.14 (5.43%) to $2.72 on volume of 5.3 million shares.
The bronze medal for today goes to Healthcare (XHJ), which climbed 261.2 points (2.9%) to 9266.3 points. The 8 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 12.29m units; 7 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 11.51m shares, while sole declining stock traded 0.78m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (SIP), +$0.09 (7.76%) to $1.25 on volume of 4 million shares;
- Cochlear (COH), +$2.80 (5.66%) to $52.30 on volume of 267.7 thousand shares;
- ResMed Inc. (RMD), +$0.21 (4.24%) to $5.16 on volume of 2.5 million shares;
- Ramsay Health Care (RHC), +$0.35 (3.54%) to $10.25 on volume of 310.8 thousand shares; and
- Ansell (ANN), +$0.36 (3.05%) to $12.16 on volume of 810.6 thousand shares.
The worst-performed index for the session was Telecommunications (XTJ), which dipped 22.1 points (1.5%) to 1447.6 points. The 3 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 51.69m units; The declining stock traded 40.91m units, and 2 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 10.78m shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Telstra Corporation (TLS), -$0.08 (1.87%) to $4.20 on volume of 40.9 million shares.
Just missing out on the wooden spoon was Energy (XEJ), which slid 13.8 points (0.08%) to 17559.6 points. The 17 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 41.32m units; The 7 decliners had volume traded totalling 25.15m units, and 10 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 16.17m shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Arrow Energy (AOE), -$0.1 (3.14%) to $3.08 on volume of 3.5 million shares;
- Beach Petroleum (BPT), -$0.03 (2.22%) to $1.10 on volume of 4 million shares;
- Oil Search (OSH), -$0.11 (1.93%) to $5.58 on volume of 6.7 million shares;
- Felix Resources (FLX), -$0.25 (1.23%) to $20.05 on volume of 491 thousand shares; and
- Woodside Petroleum (WPL), -$0.36 (0.63%) to $56.64 on volume of 2.7 million shares.
Sector Indices
| Code | GICS Sector | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XPJ | Property Trusts | 1410.8 | 58.4 | 4.32 | 114m |
| XDJ | Consumer Discretionary | 1694.1 | 68.7 | 4.23 | 50m |
| XHJ | Healthcare | 9266.3 | 261.2 | 2.9 | 12m |
| XNJ | Industrials | 4822.4 | 127.1 | 2.71 | 159m |
| XXJ | Financials ex Property Trusts | 4913.5 | 122.4 | 2.55 | 91m |
| XUJ | Utilities | 5221.1 | 124.3 | 2.44 | 51m |
| XSJ | Consumer Staples | 7235.6 | 130.2 | 1.83 | 42m |
| XIJ | Information Technology | 505.3 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 2m |
| XMJ | Materials | 13645.6 | 62.5 | 0.46 | 141m |
| XEJ | Energy | 17559.6 | -13.8 | -0.08 | 41m |
| XTJ | Telecommunications | 1447.6 | -22.1 | -1.5 | 52m |
All Ordinaries Major Movers
All Ords Volume Leaders
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VBA | Virgin Blue Holdings | 0.53 | 0.05 | 9.38 | 48.2m |
| TLS | Telstra Corporation | 4.20 | -0.08 | -1.87 | 40.9m |
| MIG | Macquarie Infrastructure Group | 2.29 | 0.06 | 2.69 | 27.5m |
| OZL | OZ Minerals | 1.83 | -0.05 | -2.66 | 19.4m |
| BBI | Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group | 0.64 | 0.04 | 6.72 | 19m |
All Ords Percentage Gainers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARR | Arasor International | 0.12 | 0.02 | 21.05 | 561.6k |
| WCB | Warrnambool Cheese & Butter Factory Co.Hold.Ltd | 5.05 | 0.65 | 14.77 | 63.9k |
| ESG | Eastern Star Gas | 0.60 | 0.07 | 13.21 | 2m |
| CFU | Ceramic Fuel Cells | 0.45 | 0.05 | 12.5 | 371.3k |
| JML | Jabiru Metals | 0.33 | 0.04 | 12.07 | 3.7m |
All Ords Percentage Losers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMR | Compass Resources | 0.66 | -0.08 | -10.27 | 1.1m |
| GWR | Golden West Resources | 1.80 | -0.21 | -10.25 | 102.8k |
| MOC | Mortgage Choice | 1.07 | -0.11 | -9.36 | 64.7k |
| CNP | Centro Properties Group | 0.20 | -0.02 | -9.09 | 17.3m |
| ACK | Austock Group | 0.50 | -0.05 | -9.09 | 36k |
