After a week of turmoil last week, the S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) rose strongly today, up 1.2% to 4,822 points on the back of a strong lead from overseas markets.
A number of shares significantly outperformed the market today, and here's why:
Amcor Limited (ASX: AMC) soared 10% to $13.44 after the company released its half-yearly report which revealed declining revenues and profits as a result of the strengthening US dollar. However, on a constant-currency basis, Amcor posted rising profits and earnings per share thanks to strong underlying business performance. Amcor shares have been in high demand in recent years, as investors buy into its defensive earnings stream, foreign currency, and emerging economy exposure.
Amcor shares are down 7% in the past 12 months.
Prophecy International Holdings Limited (ASX: PRO) lifted 6% to $1.80 after the company reported its second unaudited results update in the lead-up to its interim report today. Prophecy indicated it had made revenue of $8 million and profit of $3.1 million, up 55% from the previous year. Prophecy has been aggressively notifying the market of its successes over the past year, and a focus on publicity could be partly behind the strong rise in the company's shares.
Prophecy shares are up 220% in the past 12 months.
BT Investment Management Ltd (ASX:BTT) rose 5% to $8.75 after a savage sell-off in the past month or so brought all the bargain hunters out of the woodwork. BT shares actually hit their highest point ever in November last year, and the recent turnaround has come on the back of plunging stock markets. Given that BT makes money as a percentage of funds under management, investors could be expecting fees to fall significantly this year as global markets suffer.
BT shares are up 10% in the past 12 months.
BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) gained 5% to $15.87
BHP Billiton shares have been a regular feature in both the up and down daily market mover articles from fool.com.au, and will probably be for the foreseeable future. In addition to concerns about its debt and dividend, BHP's share price is subject to swings in the value of commodity prices, particularly iron ore, oil, gas, and copper. Most recently the value of crude oil jumped back above US$30 per barrel, which had a positive effective on BHP's share price.
BHP shares are down 48% in the past 12 months.
