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.
Local market begins on weaker note, EML loses CEO, Costa flags citrus issues
The Australian market couldn’t carry over a positive week for the US market, falling throughout the day to finish 1.1 per cent lower.
There were very few highlights outside of the healthcare sector, which gained 0.1 per cent, while every other sector finished lower.
Materials and technology continue to be hit on the back of concerns about stagflation, or a weakening economy at the same time that inflation remains high; both were down more than 2.5 per cent.
Sonic Healthcare (ASX: SHL) and Healius (ASX: HLS) were among the leaders gaining around 1 per cent each, with CSL (ASX: CSL) also seeing buyers attracted to the sector’s defensive revenue profile.
EML Payments (ASX: EML) fell another 24 per cent with the company in the news for all the wrong reasons in 2022.
CEO Tom Cregan resigned with Emma Shand to takeover following prior stints at Nasdaq as the company embarks on an aggressive global expansion strategy.
The ASX also lost their CFO, with Gillian Larkins to join CEO Dominic Stevens out the door in August following a different period for the exchange operator.
Link denies offer, Costa sees trouble, oil fluctuates, big week ahead
Link (ASX: LNK) shares managed to eke out a small gain, finishing at $4.03 but well below the improved $4.57 offer from Dye & Durham.
This came after news that the board had reviewed the improved offer and suggested it was unable to recommend the acquisition given recent movements in the value of the PEXA platform.
It was bad news for Costa Group (ASX: CGC) which ended 8 per cent lower after leaving a trading halt in relation to its citrus crop.
Management has warned of quality issues in their crop due to the impact of weather events that will see lower production than usual.
“The 2PH business is predominantly operating in line with pre-acquisition expectations with volumes above forecast; however, some quality issues have been encountered due to weather events occurring over recent weeks” they explained.
Broking house Jarden believes that inflation will moderate in the US in the coming months and Australia 3 to 6 months later, offering hope for those worried about an inflation outbreak.
Elsewhere a massive week lies ahead for economic data with Chinese results to filter through along with a US inflation print that could change the course of central bank policy.
Mega cap tech selloff hits market, earnings season set, Twitter sinks on a pulled deal
All three benchmarks finished lower to begin the week, with the mega-cap technology names including Tesla (NYSE: TSLA), Apple (NYSE: MSFT) and Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) among the biggest detractors sending the Nasdaq to another 2.6 per cent fall.
The Dow Jones outperformed, falling 0.5 and the S&P500 down 1.2 per cent. The key concern remains this week’s inflation data which many suggest could hit 9 per cent while the rollout of further restrictions in China has also hit market confidence.
Among those hardest hit were Macau casino operators including Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) which fell close to 7 per cent after the government announced the city would be closed down.
Elsewhere, Twitter shares fell close to 10 per cent after Elon Musk walked away from the deal on concerns that management didn’t provide enough data about fake accounts and bots, and he will be slugged a hefty break fee.
This week sees the beginning of an incredibly important earning season with the major banks including JP Morgan (NYSE: JPM) up first on Friday.
