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Major Market Indices
After an early plunge of over 100 points in the first 5 minutes of trade, the All Ordinaries (XAO) recovered all but a handful of those declines. Hope springs eternal - there was neither rhyme nor reason for such an advance - exxcept that people are now so conditioned to the idea that buying dips is the thing to do.
When it's the right dip, I agree. After all, I amm a contrarian - otherwise why on earth would I have gently proffered the embattled Babcock and Brown as a short-term trade candidate over the weekend? Here's the text (from this forum post):
Anyhow... either B&B is dead (and the ASX is therefore remiss for not delisting it and every one of its products), or---- [more for subscribers]
Just kidding with the 'more for subscribers' stuff.
Now. I would never buy B&B's stock, but BNBEN (a $2.25 American call expiring Sep25th) must be worth a punt, surely.
...Now - all the usual cavets apply... this is not advice, the Strayan options market is run by crooks, and so on an so forth.
[Note - there was a typo in that post - BNBEN is a $10.25 Americal call expiring October 30th. The correct code for the $2.25 Sep25 call was BNBEH - those keys are too close to one another].
Anyow - contrarian punts aside. Today was the right dip only if you're a trader and you exited at the close.
Overall the Ords declined very little on a close on close basis, dropping 7.8 points (0.15%), finishing at 5082.3 points. The index hit an intraday high of 5090.1 at 10:00 am, while the low for the day was 4975.6 - set at 10:54 am Sydney time (at 10:15 Sydney time the index was just above 4980 - most of the damage happened at the open).
Total volume traded on the ASX was 997.5m units, 8.9% below its 10-day average. The ASX's daily listing of all stocks included 1271 different 3-letter FPO's which traded (i.e., had non-zero trade volume). Of these, 435 issues rose, with volume in rising issues totalling 420.6m units; decliners numbered 539 counters, and between them they traded aggregate declining volume of 488.9m shares.
Of the 494 All Ordinaries components, 171 rose while 236 fell. Volume was tilted in favour of the losers by a margin of 1.1:1, with 350.09m shares traded in gainers while 392.34m 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) - fell mildly, losing 7.4 points (0.15%), closing out the session at 5007.5 points.
| Name | Close | +/-(%) |
|---|---|---|
| All Ordinaries | 5082.30 | -7.80 (0.2%) |
| ASX 20 | 2827.70 | -3.70 (0.1%) |
| ASX 50 | 4898.80 | -5.30 (0.1%) |
| ASX 100 | 4056.30 | -5.90 (0.1%) |
| ASX 200 | 5007.50 | -7.40 (0.1%) |
| ASX 300 | 5001.10 | -7.30 (0.1%) |
| ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 4974.50 | -19.10 (0.4%) |
| ASX Small Ordinaries | 2868.40 | -3.80 (0.1%) |
The "heavy hitters" of the Australian market - the ASX 20 Leaders (XTL) - slid modestly, falling 3.7 points (0.13%), closing out the session at 2827.7 points.
Among the 20 big guns, 6 index components finished to the upside, and of the rest, 14 closed lower for the session. The 20 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 145.6m units; 6 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 88.5m shares, while the 14 decliners had volume traded totalling 57.1m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- BHP Billiton (BHP), +$0.75 (1.88%) to $40.75 on volume of 8.9 million shares;
- Foster's Group (FGL), +$0.08 (1.5%) to $5.41 on volume of 8.3 million shares;
- Rio Tinto (RIO), +$1.76 (1.44%) to $124.06 on volume of 934.6 thousand shares;
- Australia And New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ), +$0.21 (1.32%) to $16.12 on volume of 16.7 million shares; and
- Telstra Corporation (TLS), +$0.05 (1.19%) to $4.25 on volume of 47 million shares.
On the less salubrious side of the big-cap fence, the following stocks were the worst-performed within the index:
- Qbe Insurance Group (QBE), -$1.17 (5.02%) to $22.16 on volume of 3.6 million shares;
- Wesfarmers (WES), -$1.55 (4.76%) to $31.00 on volume of 2.8 million shares;
- Suncorp-Metway (SUN), -$0.44 (3.44%) to $12.36 on volume of 4 million shares;
- Macquarie Group (MQG), -$1.5 (3.15%) to $46.05 on volume of 3.6 million shares; and
- Brambles (BXB), -$0.09 (1.25%) to $7.13 on volume of 9.5 million shares.
The ASX Small Ordinaries (XSO) slid gently, in line with its large-cap counterpart. The Small Ords slid modestly, falling 3.8 points (0.13%), closing out the session at 2868.4 points. The 195 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 230.79m units: volume in the 72 gainers totalling 80.22m shares, with trade totalling 125.47m units in the index's 99 declining components. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Mirvac Industrial Trust (MIX), +$0.04 (17.78%) to $0.27 on volume of 6.9 million shares;
- Jabiru Metals (JML), +$0.04 (12.31%) to $0.37 on volume of 3.2 million shares;
- Spotless Group (SPT), +$0.32 (10.13%) to $3.48 on volume of 1.1 million shares;
- CopperCo (CUO), +$0.03 (6.67%) to $0.40 on volume of 1.3 million shares; and
- Australian Agricultural Company. (AAC), +$0.19 (6.53%) to $3.10 on volume of 246.5 thousand shares.
In the red-zone of the little-stock index, the following list represents the biggest downers (in terms of percentage decline):
- Centro Properties Group (CNP), -$0.03 (12.5%) to $0.18 on volume of 27 million shares;
- Bannerman Resources (BMN), -$0.1 (11.18%) to $0.76 on volume of 3.6 million shares;
- Centro Retail (CER), -$0.03 (9.68%) to $0.28 on volume of 5.2 million shares;
- Emeco Holdings Ltd (EHL), -$0.1 (8.73%) to $1.05 on volume of 3.2 million shares; and
- Charter Hall Group (CHC), -$0.05 (5.95%) to $0.79 on volume of 766.5 thousand shares.
Index Changes
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAO | All Ordinaries | 5082.3 | -7.8 | -0.15 | 791.2m |
| XFL | ASX 50 | 4898.8 | -5.3 | -0.11 | 292.8m |
| XJO | ASX 200 | 5007.5 | -7.4 | -0.15 | 646.6m |
| XKO | ASX 300 | 5001.1 | -7.3 | -0.15 | 720.4m |
| XMD | ASX Mid-Cap 50 | 4974.5 | -19.1 | -0.38 | 196.8m |
| XSO | ASX Small Ordinaries | 2868.4 | -3.8 | -0.13 | 230.8m |
| XTL | ASX 20 | 2827.7 | -3.7 | -0.13 | 145.6m |
| XTO | ASX 100 | 4056.3 | -5.9 | -0.15 | 489.6m |
Market Breadth
| ASX20 | XTO | XJO | XAO | XSO | Market | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advances | 6 | 37 | 73 | 171 | 72 | 435 |
| Declines | 14 | 61 | 114 | 236 | 99 | 539 |
| Advancing Volume | 88.5m | 256.7m | 304.2m | 350.1m | 80.2m | 420.6m |
| Declining Volume | 57.1m | 248.5m | 349.4m | 392.3m | 125.5m | 488.9m |
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 Materials (XMJ), which added 115 points (0.84%) to 13760.6 points. The 42 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 109.61m units; 13 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 28.48m shares, while the 26 decliners had volume traded totalling 67.86m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Great Southern (GTP), +$0.03 (4.29%) to $0.73 on volume of 2.1 million shares;
- Minara Resources (MRE), +$0.06 (4.26%) to $1.47 on volume of 3.8 million shares;
- Lynas Corporation (LYC), +$0.04 (3.37%) to $1.08 on volume of 1.1 million shares;
- Equinox Minerals (EQN), +$0.10 (2.49%) to $4.12 on volume of 2 million shares; and
- James Hardie Industries N.V. (JHX), +$0.10 (2.19%) to $4.66 on volume of 1.2 million shares.
Second in the index leadership stakes was Telecommunications (XTJ), which gained 11.3 points (0.78%) to 1458.9 points. The 3 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 51.59m units; The lone rising index component had volume amounting to 46.99m shares, while the 2 decliners had volume traded totalling 4.6m units. The gainer was Telstra Corporation. (TLS), +$0.05 (1.19%) to $4.25 on volume of 47 million shares.
The bronze medal for today goes to Utilities (XUJ), which climbed 23.5 points (0.45%) to 5244.6 points. The 10 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 43.83m units; 4 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 29.79m shares, while the 5 decliners had volume traded totalling 13.29m units. The major percentage gainers within the index were
- Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group (BBI), +$0.04 (5.51%) to $0.67 on volume of 23 million shares;
- Babcock & Brown Wind Partners Group (BBW), +$0.06 (4.65%) to $1.35 on volume of 5.6 million shares;
- APA Group (APA), +$0.10 (3.03%) to $3.40 on volume of 935.9 thousand shares; and
- Envestra (ENV), +$0.01 (0.7%) to $0.72 on volume of 257.7 thousand shares.
The worst-performed index for the session was Consumer Staples (XSJ), which dipped 118.1 points (1.63%) to 7117.5 points. The 11 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 35.77m units; The 6 decliners had volume traded totalling 20.34m units, and 4 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 14.89m shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Wesfarmers (WES), -$1.55 (4.76%) to $31.00 on volume of 2.8 million shares;
- Futuris Corporation (FCL), -$0.04 (3.01%) to $1.29 on volume of 3 million shares;
- Goodman Fielder (GFF), -$0.04 (2.41%) to $1.42 on volume of 8.5 million shares;
- ABB Grain (ABB), -$0.11 (1.28%) to $8.50 on volume of 409 thousand shares; and
- Coca-Cola Amatil (CCL), -$0.07 (0.86%) to $8.06 on volume of 2.8 million shares.
Just missing out on the wooden spoon was Financials ex Property Trusts (XXJ), which slid 43.6 points (0.89%) to 4869.9 points. The 30 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 83.99m units; The 16 decliners had volume traded totalling 38.12m units, and 11 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 41.26m shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Qbe Insurance Group (QBE), -$1.17 (5.02%) to $22.16 on volume of 3.6 million shares;
- Suncorp-Metway. (SUN), -$0.44 (3.44%) to $12.36 on volume of 4 million shares;
- Sunland Group (SDG), -$0.08 (3.16%) to $2.45 on volume of 388.4 thousand shares;
- Macquarie Group (MQG), -$1.5 (3.15%) to $46.05 on volume of 3.6 million shares; and
- Babcock and Brown Capital (BCM), -$0.1 (3.05%) to $3.18 on volume of 337.5 thousand shares.
Third-to-last amongst the sector indices was Property Trusts (XPJ), which slid 7.8 points (0.55%) to 1403 points. The 21 stocks which make up the index traded a total of 143.4m units; The 16 decliners had volume traded totalling 93.92m units, and 4 index components rose, with rising volume amounting to 48.06m shares, The major percentage decliners within the index were
- Centro Properties Group (CNP), -$0.03 (12.5%) to $0.18 on volume of 27 million shares;
- Centro Retail (CER), -$0.03 (9.68%) to $0.28 on volume of 5.2 million shares;
- APN/UKA European Retail Property Group (AEZ), -$0.02 (5.36%) to $0.27 on volume of 998.3 thousand shares;
- Tishman Speyer Office Fund (TSO), -$0.06 (5.33%) to $1.07 on volume of 7.3 million shares; and
- Macquarie Countrywide Trust (MCW), -$0.04 (3.23%) to $1.05 on volume of 7.6 million shares.
Sector Indices
| Code | GICS Sector | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XMJ | Materials | 13760.6 | 115 | 0.84 | 110m |
| XTJ | Telecommunications | 1458.9 | 11.3 | 0.78 | 52m |
| XUJ | Utilities | 5244.6 | 23.5 | 0.45 | 44m |
| XIJ | Information Technology | 506.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 2m |
| XNJ | Industrials | 4835.1 | 12.7 | 0.26 | 120m |
| XEJ | Energy | 17556.9 | -2.7 | -0.02 | 25m |
| XDJ | Consumer Discretionary | 1691.6 | -2.5 | -0.15 | 56m |
| XHJ | Healthcare | 9236.8 | -29.5 | -0.32 | 9m |
| XPJ | Property Trusts | 1403 | -7.8 | -0.55 | 143m |
| XXJ | Financials ex Property Trusts | 4869.9 | -43.6 | -0.89 | 84m |
| XSJ | Consumer Staples | 7117.5 | -118.1 | -1.63 | 36m |
All Ordinaries Major Movers
All Ords Volume Leaders
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLS | Telstra Corporation. | 4.25 | 0.05 | 1.19 | 47m |
| VBA | Virgin Blue Holdings | 0.52 | -0.01 | -0.95 | 34.7m |
| VPG | Valad Property Group | 0.47 | 0.04 | 9.3 | 28.4m |
| CNP | Centro Properties Group | 0.18 | -0.03 | -12.5 | 27m |
| BBI | Babcock & Brown Infrastructure Group | 0.67 | 0.04 | 5.51 | 23m |
All Ords Percentage Gainers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIX | Mirvac Industrial Trust | 0.27 | 0.04 | 17.78 | 6.9m |
| JML | Jabiru Metals | 0.37 | 0.04 | 12.31 | 3.2m |
| SPT | Spotless Group | 3.48 | 0.32 | 10.13 | 1.1m |
| CFU | Ceramic Fuel Cells | 0.50 | 0.05 | 10 | 570k |
| AXM | Apex Minerals NL | 0.40 | 0.04 | 9.59 | 1.4m |
All Ords Percentage Losers
| Code | Name | Close | +/- | % | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GNM | Gujarat NRE Minerals Ltd | 1.10 | -0.30 | -21.43 | 4k |
| CNP | Centro Properties Group | 0.18 | -0.03 | -12.5 | 27m |
| AIM | Aim Resources | 0.02 | 0.00 | -11.54 | 1.2m |
| BMN | Bannerman Resources | 0.76 | -0.10 | -11.18 | 3.6m |
| CMV | CMA Corporation | 0.39 | -0.05 | -10.47 | 815.9k |
