Note - from June 24th 2009, this blog has migrated from Blogger to a self-hosted version. Click here to go straight there.
Any time you get the idea that computers and what-not haven't already achieved a level of complexity from which sentience emerges, you had better think again.
For some reason, our Dell can see the new site - and all the administrative machinery for it - but the machine I'm typing on can't.
Can't? Or won't? I have done all sorts of button-pushing and cache-clearing and re-logging-in, but this machine steadfastly refuses to acknowledge the existence of the hosted site.
I think it's envy (plus a bit of jealousy... people get those two words confused... they don't mean anything likethe same thing).
I think that because this machine is the development environment, it envies the webhole that hosts the production version - after all, the world can see the production box, but only I can see the development box.
And the jealousy? Well, it thinks "You, marketmentat.com, are an ingrate. I shelter you during your development, give you a place to stay, and the moment you feel like it, you're parading yourself in front of the whole world like a... like... like a slut. There, I said it. Well, I don't have to participate in your stupid little games."
More likely, its a setting. Although digital machines are complex enough to generate genuinely (unintended) fuzzy outcomes, I don't think they have become capable of being bitchy yet.
A brief note - I have now amended the links in the OzRant to point to the new site. So now they open popup boxes with basic details on the stock or index... for months they have done nothing more than prettify the text.
Major Market Indices
The broad market - the All Ordinaries (XAO) - rose strongly, registering a gain of 60.6 points (1.22%), finishing at 5010.2 points. The index hit an intraday high of 5015.4 just after 2 p.m. (just beating the 5013.4 set at 10:48 a.m.), while the low for the day was 4949.6 - set at the open.
Total volume traded on the ASX was 1.24bn units, 19.1% above its 10-day average. The ASX's daily listing of all stocks included 1286 different 3-letter FPO's which traded (i.e., had non-zero trade volume). Of these, 573 issues rose, with volume in rising issues totalling 757.9m units; decliners numbered 411 counters, and between them they traded aggregate declining volume of 393.4m shares.
Of the 494 All Ordinaries components, 278 rose while 139 fell. Volume was tilted in favour of the gainers by a margin of 1.8:1, with 625.17m shares traded in gainers while 338.38m 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 56.2 points (1.15%), closing out the session at 4931.4 points.
| Name | Close | +/-(%) |
|---|---|---|
| All Ordinaries | 5010.20 | 60.60 (1.2%) |
| ASX 20 | 2791.80 | 21.10 (0.8%) |
| ASX 50 | 4830.70 | 43.00 (0.9%) |
| ASX 100 | 3996.40 | 40.00 (1.0%) |
| ASX 200 | 4931.40 | 56.20 (1.2%) |
| ASX 300 | 4926.00 | 56.60 (1.2%) |
| ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 4874.90 | 82.80 (1.7%) |
| ASX Small Ordinaries | 2818.40 | 69.40 (2.5%) |
The "heavy hitters" of the Australian market - the ASX 20 Leaders (XTL) - advanced by under a percent, adding 21.1 points (0.76%), closing out the session at 2791.8 points.
Among the 20 big guns, 8 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 11 closed lower for the session. The 20 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 168.79m units; 8 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 48.55m shares, while the 11 decliners had volume traded totalling 114.23m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- CSL (CSL), +$1.47 (4.06%) to $37.67 on volume of 2.8 million shares;
- Woodside Petroleum (WPL), +$1.85 (3.35%) to $57.00 on volume of 2.7 million shares;
- BHP Billiton (BHP), +$1.20 (3.08%) to $40.15 on volume of 12.8 million shares;
- St George Bank (SGB), +$0.56 (1.99%) to $28.71 on volume of 1.5 million shares; and
- Commonwealth Bank Of Australia (CBA), +$0.78 (1.92%) to $41.38 on volume of 4.8 million shares.
On the less salubrious side of the big-cap fence, the following stocks were the worst-performed within the index:
- Woolworths (WOW), -$0.84 (3.11%) to $26.14 on volume of 3.1 million shares;
- Wesfarmers (WES), -$0.95 (2.89%) to $31.95 on volume of 4.4 million shares;
- Telstra Corporation (TLS), -$0.11 (2.51%) to $4.28 on volume of 62.2 million shares;
- Foster's Group (FGL), -$0.09 (1.69%) to $5.24 on volume of 9.6 million shares; and
- Macquarie Group (MQG), -$0.8 (1.68%) to $46.70 on volume of 3.7 million shares.
At the other end of the market-cap spectrum we find the ASX Small Ordinaries (XSO). The small end of the market absolutely wiped the floor with its large-cap counterpart. The Small Ords had a bit of a moonshot, stacking on 69.4 points (2.52%), closing out the session at 2818.4 points.
Among the stocks that make up the Small Caps index, 130 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 45 closed lower for the session.
The 195 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 311.74m units: volume in the 130 gainers totalling 255.18m shares, with trade totalling 45.87m units in the index's 45 declining components. The major percentage gainers within the index were- Babcock & Brown Power (BBP), +$0.05 (25%) to $0.23 on volume of 25 million shares;
- Babcock & Brown Communities Group (BBC), +$0.05 (16.13%) to $0.36 on volume of 1.8 million shares;
- Avoca Resources (AVO), +$0.24 (14.51%) to $1.86 on volume of 377.1 thousand shares;
- Equinox Minerals (EQN), +$0.50 (13.59%) to $4.18 on volume of 2 million shares; and
- Kagara Zinc (KZL), +$0.39 (13.54%) to $3.27 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):
- Mintails (MLI), -$0.03 (15.79%) to $0.16 on volume of 500 thousand shares;
- Coffey International (COF), -$0.16 (7.37%) to $2.01 on volume of 97.9 thousand shares;
- Rubicon Japan Trust (RJT), -$0 (6.25%) to $0.06 on volume of 812.7 thousand shares;
- Rubicon America Trust (RAT), -$0 (5.63%) to $0.07 on volume of 1 million shares; and
- Centro Properties Group (CNP), -$0.01 (4.35%) to $0.22 on volume of 7.9 million shares.
Index Changes
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAO | All Ordinaries | 5010.2 | 60.6 | 1.22 | 1001.6m |
| XFL | ASX 50 | 4830.7 | 43 | 0.9 | 427.5m |
| XJO | ASX 200 | 4931.4 | 56.2 | 1.15 | 875.3m |
| XKO | ASX 300 | 4926 | 56.6 | 1.16 | 954.6m |
| XMD | ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 4874.9 | 82.8 | 1.73 | 215.4m |
| XSO | ASX Small Ordinaries | 2818.4 | 69.4 | 2.52 | 311.7m |
| XTL | ASX 20 | 2791.8 | 21.1 | 0.76 | 168.8m |
| XTO | ASX 100 | 3996.4 | 40 | 1.01 | 642.9m |
Market Breadth
| ASX20 | XTO | XJO | XAO | XSO | Market | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advances | 8 | 63 | 139 | 278 | 130 | 573 |
| Declines | 11 | 35 | 54 | 139 | 45 | 411 |
| Advancing Volume | 48.5m | 350m | 541.6m | 625.2m | 255.2m | 757.9m |
| Declining Volume | 114.2m | 275.9m | 312.1m | 338.4m | 45.9m | 393.4m |
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 Materials (XMJ), which added 422.8 points (3.21%) to 13583.1 points. The 42 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 209.52m units; 37 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 200.28m shares, while the 3 decliners had volume traded totalling 8.45m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Equinox Minerals (EQN), +$0.50 (13.59%) to $4.18 on volume of 2 million shares;
- Kagara Zinc (KZL), +$0.39 (13.54%) to $3.27 on volume of 1.8 million shares;
- Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation (CXC), +$0.26 (12.87%) to $2.28 on volume of 249.6 thousand shares;
- OZ Minerals (OZL), +$0.20 (11.57%) to $1.88 on volume of 49 million shares; and
- Minara Resources (MRE), +$0.14 (10.67%) to $1.40 on volume of 4.1 million shares.
Second in the index leadership stakes was Energy (XEJ), which gained 504.8 points (2.96%) to 17573.4 points. The 17 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 56.97m units; 17 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 56.97m shares, while sole declining stock traded 0m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Centennial Coal Company (CEY), +$0.43 (8.35%) to $5.58 on volume of 4.9 million shares;
- Riversdale Mining (RIV), +$0.67 (7.52%) to $9.58 on volume of 736.3 thousand shares;
- Beach Petroleum (BPT), +$0.07 (6.13%) to $1.13 on volume of 5.7 million shares;
- Australian Worldwide Exploration (AWE), +$0.19 (6.11%) to $3.30 on volume of 11.8 million shares; and
- Paladin Energy (PDN), +$0.27 (5.14%) to $5.52 on volume of 2.2 million shares.
The bronze medal for today goes to Healthcare (XHJ), which climbed 230 points (2.62%) to 9005.1 points. The 8 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 7.72m units; 6 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 6.6m shares, while the 2 decliners had volume traded totalling 1.12m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- CSL (CSL), +$1.47 (4.06%) to $37.67 on volume of 2.8 million shares;
- Sonic Healthcare (SHL), +$0.20 (1.45%) to $14.02 on volume of 1.1 million shares;
- Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd (SIP), +$0.01 (0.87%) to $1.16 on volume of 846.2 thousand shares;
- Ansell (ANN), +$0.05 (0.43%) to $11.80 on volume of 440.9 thousand shares; and
- Healthscope (HSP), +$0.01 (0.24%) to $4.25 on volume of 1 million shares.
The worst-performed index for the session was Telecommunications (XTJ), which dipped 36.5 points (2.42%) to 1469.7 points. The 3 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 71.95m units; all three stocks fell -
- Telstra Corporation (TLS), -$0.11 (2.51%) to $4.28 on volume of 62.2 million shares;
- Telecom Corporation Of New Zealand (TEL), -$0.06 (2.2%) to $2.67 on volume of 8.5 million shares; and
- Singapore Telecommunications (SGT), -$0.01 (0.36%) to $2.76 on volume of 1.3 million shares.
Just missing out on the wooden spoon was Consumer Staples (XSJ), which slid 155.4 points (2.14%) to 7105.4 points. The 11 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 32.84m units; The 5 decliners had volume traded totalling 21.12m units, and 6 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 11.72m shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Woolworths (WOW), -$0.84 (3.11%) to $26.14 on volume of 3.1 million shares;
- Wesfarmers (WES), -$0.95 (2.89%) to $31.95 on volume of 4.4 million shares;
- Foster's Group (FGL), -$0.09 (1.69%) to $5.24 on volume of 9.6 million shares;
- Futuris Corporation (FCL), -$0.02 (1.08%) to $1.38 on volume of 2.6 million shares; and
- Lion Nathan (LNN), -$0.03 (0.34%) to $8.69 on volume of 1.4 million shares.
Third-to-last amongst the sector indices was Information Technology (XIJ), which slid 9 points (1.76%) to 501.8 points. The 2 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 5.02m units; both fell -
- Computershare (CPU), -$0.17 (1.9%) to $8.80 on volume of 4.6 million shares; and
- Iress Market Technology (IRE), -$0.05 (0.83%) to $6.00 on volume of 380.9 thousand shares.
Sector Indices
| Code | GICS Sector | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XMJ | Materials | 13583.1 | 422.8 | 3.21 | 210m |
| XEJ | Energy | 17573.4 | 504.8 | 2.96 | 57m |
| XHJ | Healthcare | 9005.1 | 230 | 2.62 | 8m |
| XUJ | Utilities | 5096.8 | 100.3 | 2.01 | 82m |
| XDJ | Consumer Discretionary | 1625.4 | 18.3 | 1.14 | 56m |
| XXJ | Financials ex Property Trusts | 4791.1 | 32.4 | 0.68 | 107m |
| XPJ | Property Trusts | 1352.4 | 3.9 | 0.29 | 97m |
| XNJ | Industrials | 4695.3 | -3.6 | -0.08 | 150m |
| XIJ | Information Technology | 501.8 | -9 | -1.76 | 5m |
| XSJ | Consumer Staples | 7105.4 | -155.4 | -2.14 | 33m |
| XTJ | Telecommunications | 1469.7 | -36.5 | -2.42 | 72m |
All Ordinaries Major Movers
All Ords Volume Leaders
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLS | Telstra Corporation Limited. | 4.28 | -0.11 | -2.51 | 62.2m |
| OZL | OZ Minerals Limited | 1.88 | 0.20 | 11.57 | 49m |
| MIG | Macquarie Infrastructure Group | 2.23 | -0.26 | -10.44 | 35.7m |
| VBA | Virgin Blue Holdings Limited | 0.48 | -0.11 | -18.64 | 32.6m |
| BNB | Babcock & Brown Limited | 2.48 | 0.26 | 11.71 | 27.1m |
All Ords Percentage Gainers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GWR | Golden West Resources Limited | 2.00 | 0.45 | 29.03 | 2.3m |
| BBP | Babcock & Brown Power | 0.23 | 0.05 | 25 | 25m |
| PRU | Perseus Mining Limited | 0.98 | 0.14 | 17.47 | 475.7k |
| BBC | Babcock & Brown Communities Group | 0.36 | 0.05 | 16.13 | 1.8m |
| AVO | Avoca Resources Limited | 1.86 | 0.24 | 14.51 | 377.1k |
All Ords Percentage Losers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VBA | Virgin Blue Holdings Limited | 0.48 | -0.11 | -18.64 | 32.6m |
| MCG | Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group | 2.72 | -0.59 | -17.82 | 7m |
| MLI | Mintails Limited | 0.16 | -0.03 | -15.79 | 500k |
| MIG | Macquarie Infrastructure Group | 2.23 | -0.26 | -10.44 | 35.7m |
| HWI | Housewares International Limited | 1.19 | -0.11 | -8.46 | 32.7k |
