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.
Link (ASX:LNK) under offer
Six days in a row, Link (ASX:LNK) under offer, banking rally, US rally continues
The market managed to eke out a six-straight day of gains, finishing 0.5% higher to start the week.
The banking sector experienced a late rally adding 1.2% with ANZ Banking Group Ltd (ASX:ANZ) the leader.
But it was the technology sector that stood out, albeit for different reasons to usual.
I highlighted the ‘buyer’s market’ occurring on the ASX on the weekend and just one day later, Link Administration Services Ltd (ASX:LNK) received an unexpected takeover offer from private equity groups PEP and Carlyle Group at a price of $5.20 per share; shares rallied 25.1% as a result.
The offer excludes the oft spoken about PEXA property settlement platform, with some shareholders already suggesting the offer ‘undervalues’ the business.
With the company clearly in play, my view is to watch this space and look for an outright offer for the PEXA platform.
Takeovers galore, energy on the nose, gas going green
Sticking with the takeovers, mid cap software provider Bravura Solutions (ASX:BVS) announced the acquisition of Delta Software, a UK based pension administration firm for $41 million as they seek to expand their British operations.
Shares added 8.9%. Aware Super, formerly First State Super, increased their bid for Opticom (ASX:OPC) to $6.5, usurping the offer made by Uniti Wireless (ASX:UWL) and sending the shares another 9.1% higher.
The owner of fibre connection communities and housing estates is seeing incredible interest.
Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX:WHC) was among the weakest falling 5.7% on the unexpected announcement that Australian coal may be cut from Chinese steel mills, whilst Cooper Energy (ASX:COE) offset an energy price fall, remaining flat, after announcing it had become Australia’s first domestic carbon neutral gas producer.
Finally, embattled vertically integrated financial advisory firm Evans & Dixon Ltd (ASX:ED1) announced a name change to E & P Financial Group.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) set to launch 5G phone, Amazon Prime day, markets soar
US markets have delivered their fourth straight day of gains and one of the biggest one day rallies in months, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq finishing 1.6% and 3.1% higher respectively.
Two of the biggest names in the index are driving this rally, with Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) set to unveil a new 5G iPhone today as it embraces the new technology; the share pricing gaining over 6%.
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) on the other hand is running its ubiquitous Prime Day during which it offers huge discounts, shares finishing over 4% higher taking the tech rally to 75% since the March bottoms.
Markets are still holding out hope for stimulus.
Several major banks are set to report tomorrow, including JP Morgan (NYSE:JPM) and Blackrock (NYSE:BLK) which will provide an insight into the health of the economy.
This tech-driven recovery is once again showing the risk of ‘generalisations’ in markets.
