The S&P / ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has continued its march downward today after several of the big miners took a bath after iron ore prices hit five-year lows. Luckily for Australian investors it's not all doom and gloom with several stocks in the telco and industrial space continuing to perform strongly. Let's take a look at some of the top performers and see what might be supporting their rise.
Amcor Limited (ASX: AMC) has climbed 16 cents or 1.34% to $12.14 today after providing a positive update business update at its recent AGM. The global packaging giant earns a large proportion of its earnings offshore, with 30% of them coming from high-growth emerging markets.
The group is a beneficiary of the falling Australian dollar and has forecast earnings to grow again in the current financial year. As a market leader with competitive advantages, cost-saving technologies, a solid yield, and long growth runway it looks a good option for investors seeking overseas exposure.
ResMed Inc. (CHESS) (ASX: RMD) has climbed 15 cents or 2.45% to hit a record high of $6.07. The healthcare and sleep treatment business is a sure beneficiary of the strengthening U.S. dollar and economic outlook. The group's core sales market is the U.S. and with a number of new products expected to boost sales in the second half of this financial year investors appear to think there's good news ahead.
James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) today posted second quarter results showing adjusted net operating profit up 16%, compared to the prior corresponding period. The result was built on the back of increased volumes and higher average net sales prices across the global cement businesses.
The group also has a big leverage to the strengthening U.S. economy and home construction levels. It forecast net operating profit to come in between US$205 million and $US235 million in the year ahead, which are numbers ahead of analysts' expectations. As a result the stock has jumped around 5% to $12.65.
Amcom Telecommunications Limited (ASX: AMM) today announced it has signed a contract valued at around $6.5 million to provide the Northern Territory government data network services across the region. Amcom will supply data services to 141 sites across the Territory, using its own existing infrastructure and third party networks. The stock is up 4 cents or 1.70% to $2.39 today.
Amcom's management team might be looking forward to a Christmas holiday as this is one of a number of new deals announced recently, while it's also locked in negotiations with Vocus Communications Limited (ASX: VOC) about a possible merger.
