ASX Market Wrap: Rinehart sells Fairfax shares and Flight Centre soars

Our market closes largely unchanged on low volumes

Mike King

Mike King is a Fool.com.au Investment Analyst and Writer. He caught the investing bug more than a decade ago, at a time when the U.S. had invaded Iraq and fear reigned in the markets. His initial success as the markets took off encouraged his passion and thirst for knowledge. With 13 years behind him at one of Australia's largest domestic banks, Mike's passion for stocks led him to join a boutique funds management firm, where he stayed for four years. A seven-year stint in equity research at one of the largest investment banks in the world followed that, giving Mike a thirst to pursue his passion further. Mike holds a Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning. His passion is to help retail investors invest better, and that passion was one of his primary reasons for joining The Motley Fool Australia in late 2011. Mike has written thousands of articles since joining, including for Fairfax Media, Yahoo!7, Ninemsn and has also appeared on ABC's The Business. You can see all of Mikes' holdings here

Published July 5, 2012 5:27 pm AEST

With European markets flat and Wall Street closed for the 4^th July holiday, the S&P/ASX 200 index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) followed suit down just 3 points to close at 4,169.2, on a day of low volumes.

In local news, Gina Hancock has sold 86 million shares in Fairfax Media Limited (ASX: FXJ) to reduce her holding to 15%. In a statement released today, Rinehart's company, Hancock Prospecting said,

"The sale was completed to resolve an issue that arose concerning the Directors and Officers Insurance Policy, in the situation of a Director having a greater than 15% shareholding in Fairfax."

Flight Centre shares have soared by 6.2% to end the day at $20.49, as the company shrugged off the weak retail environment and all its overseas operations produced consecutive profits. You can read more here.

Toll Holdings Limited (ASX: TOL) announced that it was selling its interstate linehaul and warehousing operations of its Toll Refrigerated business for $6.5m to Automotive Holdings Group. Toll is looking to sell off non-performing units, after slashing profit forecasts in May.

Virgin Australia Limited (ASX: VAH) has upped its stoush with Qantas Limited (ASX: QAN), ordering 23 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which are more fuel efficient and have less CO2 emissions than the planes they are replacing – the Boeing 737-700. Virgin's shares added 2.7% today.

Winners and Losers

Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) and CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) helped the Health Care sector rise more than 1.1%, with Cochlear climbing 1.4% to $65.99 and CSL adding 1.6% to close at $39.05.

Banks were in the green today with Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) , Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC), Australian and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) and National Australia Bank (ASX: NAB) all posting small rises.

Insurers Suncorp Limited (ASX: SUN) and QBE Insurance Limited (ASX: QBE) both fell, closing down 2.2% and 1.1% respectively.

Foolish takeaway

All eyes will be on the European Central Bank and the Bank of England tonight, to see what the policy makers decide to do with official interest rates. Investors may be hoping for a cut in interest rates to spur economic growth, but with official UK cash rates already at 1.1%, the Bank of England doesn't have much wriggle room.

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Motley Fool writer/analyst Mike King owns shares in CSL, Flight Centre and Cochlear. The Motley Fool's purpose is to help the world invest, better. Take Stock is The Motley Fool's free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Click here now to request your free subscription, whilst it's still available. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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