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.
Market update; ASX 200 falls 2.3%
ASX 200 falls 2.3%, oil price tanking on second wave concerns, utilities profits hit, US posts a positive finish
The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) finished Wednesday 2.3% lower taking the loss to 4.0% for the month; the first negative result since March and down -1.4% for the quarter.
The energy sector led the losses, down 4.2%, as a combination of increasing supply and second wave lockdown measures in Europe and the US drive investor concerns.
Santos Ltd (ASX:STO) fell 4.0% despite receiving approval for its much maligned Narrabri gas project, similarly Woodside Petroleum Ltd (ASX:WPL) finished 4.9% lower.
Just nine companies managed to finish higher, led by Corporate Travel Management (ASX:CTM) after its trading halt was released post the acquisition announcement.
Markets fell heavily in the afternoon coinciding with the first US Presidential Election debate, but not solely because of it.
The Australian Energy Regulator announced its decision on the allowed rate of return for Victorian electricity transmission providers, including Spark Infrastructure (ASX:SKI), cutting the rate from 5.36% to 4.59%. Shares fell 3.3% on the news.
China data surprises, job cuts grow, credit ratings cuts for Australian states
The Chinese economy continues to surprise, with the Manufacturing PMI increasing to 51.5 from 51.0 in August spurred on by infrastructure stimulus. Both bode well for the likes of BHP Group (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO).
Importantly, the non-manufacturing measure, which includes services and trade, also rose to 55.9, solidifying China’s position as the fastest growing economy in the world.
The cleanout at AMP Ltd (ASX:AMP) continues as the group attempts to streamline its business model, announcing a 20% cut to the workforce through a series of redundancies.
Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s released an update of their views on the debt position of each Australian state.
Titled “Shock and Ore” they placed NSW and the ACT onto a negative outlook along with Victoria due to concerns around expanding debt levels.
These credit ratings aren’t particularly relevant these days, with Australia still among the most highly rated government in the world and our bank’s far less reliant on global investors to fund their loan books.
Stimulus overpowers debate, two tech IPOs, strong quarterly result
The S&P 500 finished the month on a positive note, 0.8% higher, capping the monthly loss to 3.9%, the first since March.
The quarterly result was much stronger, up 8.5% for the three months which included a better than expected reporting season.
Oil and gas producer Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) rallied 7.5% after receiving a takeover offer from Next Era Energy (NYSE:NEE) as a slowdown in the sector triggers consolidation.
The latest tech IPOs were strong, big data analytics company Palantir (NYSE:PLTR) finishing 30% above it’s reference price of $7.25 whilst workplace process app, Asana (NYSE:ASAN) added 37% on its open.
The Nasdaq finished 0.7% higher not enough to offset 4.9% fall for the month.
Discussions on a stimulus package continue to offer hope for markets despite the debacle that was the first Presidential Election debate.
Finally, US inflation dropped -0.8% in the quarter as energy prices continued their falls.
