Christmas has come early for the bank’s shareholders with the decision to slightly increase the 2024 dividend – despite a single-digit decline in the net profit and cash earnings.
Beating the market benchmark is never easy, with 72 per cent of Australian actively managed global equity general funds trailing the S&P World Index in the six months to June 30, 2024. Domestic equity funds performed slightly better, albeit against a significantly lower bar set by the S&P/ASX 200 Index.
ASX gains 0.3% led by energy and materials
ASX finishes higher, miners continue to run, Sydney Airport deal increased
The ASX200 (ASX: XJO) overcame another negative lead to finish 0.3% higher with both energy and materials central to the positive result.
The energy sector was 1.2% higher as the likes of Woodside Petroleum (ASX: WPL) and Santos (ASX: STO) gained on the back of approximately 1 million barrels of supply being switched off due to Hurricane Ida in the US.
Domestic player Cooper Energy (ASX: COE) also added 4.4% after inking a new gas sale agreement with AGL Energy (ASX: AGL) which covers the Casino, Henry, Netherby and Otway assets.
Iron ore fell to a seven-month low, but still a remarkably strong price given the pandemic. But it was the gold miners standing out.
Silverlake (ASX: SLR) jumped 5.4% and Evolution (ASX: EVN) 4% despite the US dollar gold price, with investors seemingly turning to the inflation hedge following last week’s stronger than expected producer price inflation result.
Listed pub group Redcape (ASX: RDC) will be taken private in a buy back deal just a few short years after listing; shares were 9.6% higher on the news.
AMA completes recapitalisation, Sydney’s holds on, Copper mind paused
The hard-line played by Sydney Airports (ASX: SYD) board appears to have paid off with shares rallying 4.6% on an improved offer from the Industry Funds Management consortium.
The group improve their $8.45 per share offer to $8.75 valuing the company at over $23 billion, making it one of the most expensive airports in the world.
The Australian Super and Q Super backed buyers have been approved to undertake due diligence, but shares continue to offer a small margin of profit, trading at $8.37.
BHP and Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) copper play in Arizona looks to be on hold after the government passed a bill to cancel its development; neither share price was impacted.
AMA Group (ASX: AMA) looks be recovering from a near death experience, successfully raising a highly dilutive $50 million from institutional investors with a similar amount to be requested from retail shareholders.
The company was placed into a trading halt following its auditor flagging concerns in their annual report, but management have acted quickly to reposition the company; shares were 6% higher.
Market drifts higher, Alibaba hit again, Apple release ahead
US markets broke a five-day losing streak, with the Dow Jones leading the way up 0.8% on the back of another positive outlook statement from oil cartel OPEC.
The S&P 500 was held back by the big tech names up just 0.2% and the Nasdaq down 0.1% once again.
The market and investors are struggling to find direction, preferring to move on company specific announcements or new economic data to reposition portfolios, which is actually a positive for longer term investors willing to buy and hold.
Apple (NYSE: AAPL) was flat despite confirming their latest product launch will go ahead on Wednesday US time with investors and tech geeks alike waiting to hear about the latest updates.
Alibaba (NYSE: BABA) fell on 4% on Asian markets but only 1.6% in the US after the regulator reportedly ramped up pressure to break up the all-conquering payments app, Alipay.
China remains a fertile hunting ground but primarily for those sectors outside of the regulators eye. Finally, the US Government has proposed a 2% tax be applied to popular stock buyback strategies as they seek to balance the budget.
