Finance News


21 Feb 2019 - Mid-session report. ASX snaps 2 day red streak, now clawing back. Australia's unemployment rate steady at 5% as expected. Australian wages rise 2.4% over year. Wesfarmers (ASX:WES) rallies on HY results. Nine Entertainment (ASX:NEC) net profit beats Citi's estimates. Flight Centre Travel (ASX:FLT) eyes bottom of range results for full 2019 year.


21 Feb 2019 - The ASX is set to open higher this morning. Overnight the US Federal Reserve released minutes from its latest policy meeting. They show officials are unsure of the need for rate hikes this year. Wall Street's three main benchmarks were modestly higher. Another big day for reporting companies and ResMed (ASX:RMD) and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (ASX:FPH) have settled their patent dispute.


20 Feb 2019 - The ASX closed 0.2% lower today after a large number of companies reported their half year results. Corporate Travel Management (ASX:CTD) topped the best performers list after they reported a 27% rise in half-year net profit. And Bell Financial Group (ASX:BFG) recorded a full-year net profit after tax of $24.7 million, an increase of 20%.


20 Feb 2019 - The ASX opened lower. It is now tracking 0.2% lower at noon. The a2 Milk company (ASX:A2M) saw their shares rise as they reported net profit, earnings and revenue for the half year all higher compared to the last corresponding period. Wage Price Index rose 0.5% in December quarter, below expectations. And Domino's Pizza (ASX:DMP) reported a net profit rise for the half year.


20 Feb 2019 - Australian shares look set to open higher this morning following positive leads from US markets. The a2 Milk (ASX:A2M) company has announced its half year results for financial year 2019 with net profit, earnings and revenue all higher.


19 Feb 2019 - Market Wrap. Altium (ASX:ALU) shares hit all-time highs on record revenue. Blackmores (ASX:BKL) shares fall to 4-year lows on China sales slip & eyeing weaker 2H. Mount Gibson Iron (ASX:MGX) NPAT falls but revenue rises 49%. Monadelphous (ASX:MND) revenue & profit slip but hold dividend. IOOF (ASX:IFL) profit up 200%.


19 Feb 2019 - Mid-session report. IOOF Holdings (ASX:IFL) shares hit 2-month high on earnings results. Candy Club (ASX:CLB) IPO opens/trades at $0.20. Citi downgrades AMP (ASX:AMP) earnings & EPS estimates on ‘Protecting your Super Bill' passing through both houses. Emeco (ASX:EHL) stat' NPAT slips. Senex Energy (ASX:SXY) net loss improves on coal mining demand.


19 Feb 2019 - Australian shares look set for a lacklustre start this morning as investors await earnings results and the minutes from the latest RBA policy meeting. Seven Group Holdings (ASX:SVW) has announced the board appointment of Kate Farrar as an Independent Non-Executive Director.


18 Feb 2019 - It has been a positive day of trade for the Australian share market closing 0.4% higher. Waste management company Bingo Industries (ASX:BIN) saw their shares slump, hit by the apartment building slowdown. They reduced their full-year profit forecast by up to 20%. GWA Group (ASX:GWA) saw their shares rise after announcing a net profit rise of 7.3% for their half year results 2019. Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) shares took a dip today after a $12m guidance downgrade.


18 Feb 2019 - The ASX opened higher starting the week off with a strong start, boosted by solid gains on global equity and commodity markets over the weekend. US-China trade talks progression helped boost markets - the talks are moving from Beijing to Washington this week. GWA Group (ASX:GWA) saw their shares rise after they reported their half year net profit rose 7.3%. Bingo Industries (ASX:BIN) has been hit by apartment building slowdown and have reduced their full-year profit forecast by up to 20%.


18 Feb 2019 - Australian shares are set for a positive start this morning following strong leads from Wall Street on Friday. Macquarie Media company (ASX:MRN) has released its half year results for FY2019 with net profit, group revenues and earnings all down on a year on year basis.


15 Feb 2019 - It has been a good day for the Australian market. After opening in the red the ASX200 gained momentum throughout the day to close 0.1 per cent higher. The majority of the sectors saw gains with Communication and Real Estate leading the charge.


15 Feb 2019 - The Australian share market opened lower following mixed leads from Wall Street but is now tracking 0.1 per cent higher at noon. The Real Estate, Communications and Energy sectors are lifting the market today resulting in a steady boost for the local bourse in the first two hours of trade.


15 Feb 2019 - Australian shares are set to open lower this morning, following on from Thursday's modest losses. Shares on Wall Street opened sharply lower, before paring most losses, as disappointing economic data reported the worst drop for retail sales in nine years. Medibank Private (ASX:MPL) saw a drop in their NPAT of 15.4 per cent for the half year.
14 Feb 2019 - Market Wrap report. ASX200 holds onto 4-month highs but slips on earnings. South32 (ASX:S32) shares rise 3.5% on 17% rise in profit. Cleanaway (ASX:CWY) profit up 35%, shares up 57% YOY. Tassal (ASX:TGR) profit up 22%, shares up 44% YOY. Magellan (ASX:MFG) profit up 225%, FUM hits $72b. AMP (ASX:AMP) FY18 profit falls to $28m from $848m.


14 Feb 2019 - Mid-trade report. ASX rallies on busiest reporting season day, also buoyed by Wall Street sentiment. Citi drops Telstra's (ASX:TLS) expected share return despite results beating market expectations. Cleanaway (ASX:CWY) NPAT up 35%, HY div' up 50%, YOY shares up 57% Tassal (ASX:TGR) sees 'best-ever HY results', NPAT up 22%, earnings up 23%, YOY shares up 44%. Magellan (ASX:MFG) NPAT up 225% despite headwinds, YOY shares up 26%.


14 Feb 2019 - The ASX is set to open slightly lower this morning despite Wall St finishing higher. Sentiment was high in the US as President Donald Trump said talks in the US trade war with China are making good progress. A large number of companies will be releasing their results throughout the day. And AMP (ASX:AMP) has slashed its final dividend to 4 cents a share.


13 Feb 2019 - The ASX took a dip before lunch and continued to fall closing 0.3% lower. Northern Star Resources (ASX:PGH) is up over 7% after reporting increased profit and dividend. Pact Group (ASX:NST) has fallen for a second day in a row. Aveo Group (ASX:AGO) has reported a $44.7 million half-year loss, that's down 130 per cent on the prior corresponding period.


13 Feb 2019 - The ASX had a steady rise mid morning but has now dropped at noon, tracking 0.1% lower. A report out today shows consumer sentiment jumped 4.3% in February despite gloomy news on the housing market. Gambling company Tabcorp (ASX:TAH) has seen their shares drop despite reporting its NPAT has increased to $183 million up from $25 million in the previous corresponding period - this was below analysts predictions. Carsales.com are down over 5%. Northern Star Resources are up as is Beach Energy. And Bapcor (ASX:BAP) saw their NPAT growth negatively impacted.


13 Feb 2019 - Australian shares look set to open higher this morning following positive leads from Wall Street. Virgin Australia (ASX:VAH) has announced its (group underlying) profits before tax rose 37 per cent per cent to $112 million for the six months to December 2018.


12 Feb 2019 - Market Wrap. Pact Group (ASX:PGH) shares see sharp selling on $346m write-down, capping ASX gains on Tuesday. Amcor (ASX:AMC) and NYSE listed Bemis transaction, approved by European Commission & AMC gets upgraded by Citi. Challenger (ASX:CGF) & Transurban Group (ASX:TCL) profit fall, while Reckon (ASX:RKN) NPAT rises.


12 Feb 2019 - Market at Midday. Pact Group Holdings (ASX:PGH) hit by input cost headwinds and weaker demand conditions, to see $310-$340m write down in HY 2019. Reckon (ASX:RKN) NPAT up 3% & reinstates HY dividend. Click for more.


12 Feb 2019 - Australian shares look set to open higher this morning as investors await earnings results. Challenger (ASX:CGF) has announced its (normalized) net profit after tax fell 4 per cent to $200 million for the six months to December 2018.


11 Feb 2019 - Market Wrap. ASX starts week in red, after gaining 3.4% last week. APRA to complete 4 of 10 Royal Commission actions this year. US futures eyeing red start to trade. Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX:CLW) reports HY revenue rise, YOY shares up 19%. Amcor (ASX:AMC) HY revenue up 1%. GPT Group (ASX:GPT) FY NPAT up 15%, shares up 26% YOY. Click for more reporting season results.


11 Feb 2019 - The ASX opened slightly higher this morning and progressed well in early trading staying above 6000. It's now tracking 0.3% lower at noon. Two companies in the health sector are on the rise today Estia Health (ASX:EHE) and Sigma healthcare. Meanwhile the materials sector is leading the way and the Financials sector trailing behind - the big four banks are all down. The S&P/ASX 200 index is 18 points down at 6054. On the futures market the SPI is 18 points lower.


11 Feb 2019 - Australian shares are set for a soft start this morning following a mixed session in the US on Friday. Metro Mining (ASX:MMI) has announced the resignation of non-executive director Mr Lindsay Ward.
08 Feb 2019 - Market Wrap. ASX closed at 4-month high but slipped 0.3% today on oil price falling on US/China tension. Beach Energy (ASX:BPT) wipes out 2-weeks of gains ahead of results release on Wednesday 13 Feb. News Corporation (ASX:NWS) shares rise 2.7% on earnings & profit lift.


08 Feb 2019 - Mid-session report. ASX snaps winning streak on Trump shying away from meeting Xi, with the ASX200 falling at the open and remaining underwater. RBA revises inflation outlook lower & says weaker housing construction could have 'pervasive economic effects'. REA Group (ASX:REA) profit rises 20%. Citi downgrades AGL Energy (ASX:AGL).


08 Feb 2019 - ASX set to open lower following on from Wall Street's negative close. This follows fears the Trump administration will not reach a trade deal with China before the trade war escalates. News corp (ASX:NWS) reported a 21 per cent rise in revenues for Q2 of 2019.


07 Feb 2019 - Market Wrap. Ausdrill (ASX:ASL) shares hit 3-month high on $100m Indian work. IDP Education (ASX:IEL) results beat expectations, profit up 30%, shares gain 103% YOY. Downer EDI (ASX:DOW) results beat Citi's expectations, its shares are up 7% YTD. AGL's (ASX:AGL) results miss expecations.


07 Feb 2019 - Mid-session report. CYBG (ASX:CYB) shares break above 50-day average trend on earnings results. Automotive Holdings Group (ASX:AHG) says no impact for FY19 from Banking RC. IDP Education (ASX:IEL) shares dart 23% higher on 30% rise in net profit & 25% lift in revenue.


07 Feb 2019 - The ASX is set to open higher following on from Wall St which ended lower. Trump gave a state of union speech and appeared to be backing away from his previous optimism about US and China close to a trade deal. The Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) released its half year results showing a 26% increase in operating profit.


06 Feb 2019 - Market Wrap. ASX inks three-day run. Tech and Industrials lead, selling in CSL and Financials caps broader market gains. BWP Trust (ASX:BWP) reports HY revenue rises to $2.1m, its shares are 27% up YOY. Coles (ASX:COL) & Viva Energy (ASX:VEA) ink new alliance. CBA (ASX:CBA) results miss consensus est'. CIMIC Group (ASX:CIM) reports results at top end of guidance.


06 Feb 2019 - Market at Midday report. CBA (ASX:CBA) shares slip 2% on missing UBS est' but beat Citi's expectations. Insurance Australia Group (ASX:IAG) profit slips 9%, net earned premium falls 13%, but its shares rally. Virgin Australia (ASX:VAH) hires ex CEO of QLD Rail, Paul Scurrah as its CEO/MD.