The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) is grinding lower today on the back of weak international markets overnight, which were spooked by geopolitical concerns out of North Korea and falling oil prices, and a halt in Chinese share trading earlier today.
However, the following four ASX shares were shrugging off the concerns and jumping ahead of the market in afternoon trade.
Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) – up 5.3%
Shares in the diversified dairy products producer have been a regular feature of the best performing ASX shares over recent months. Throughout 2015, investors clued-on to the huge potential of quality Australian agriculture businesses exporting their products to Asian markets. Bega's decision to produce quality infant formula with Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL) in October has been well received by the market, which has bid up the Bega share price 60% in just three months.
Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) – up 2.26%
Shares of Ardent Leisure traded more than 3% higher today after sinking 6.2% yesterday. The owner of Dreamworld, White Water World and more, saw its share price sink earlier this week after news emerged that Chinese billionaire Wang Jianlin is in talks with the Queensland government to build a theme park on the Gold Coast. Last month, Credit Suisse analysts downgraded shares of Ardent Leisure to 'neutral'.
Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) – up 3.89%
Most gold shares were rallying higher today after uncertainty helped gold prices rise 1.5% overnight. In addition to the positive sentiment towards gold producers, the company also announced it had partnered with Enerji Ltd (ASX: ERJ) to deploy a thermal energy plant at its Jundee gold operations. The heat-to-power energy plant transfers waste heat into reusable energy.
Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) – up 10.34%
Beadell Resources is small-cap gold mining company with key interests in Brazil. With no company-specific news being released today, the company's share price is likely being buoyed by the geopolitical and economic uncertainty. It should be noted that gold is perceived as a hedge against uncertainty.
