While the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) approaches 5000 (at time of writing), up nearly 4% for the week, there were five numbers that had a massive impact on the Australian sharemarket.
Monday:
(-55 per cent) – Australia's biggest gold miner Newcrest Mining Limited's (ASX: NCM) first half profit tumbled 55% due to lower gold and copper prices and a shutdown at a major mine. Net profit for the six months fell to US$81 million ($113.82 million), from US$180 million a year earlier.
Tuesday:
(-$80 million) – Casinos operator Star Entertainment Group Ltd's (ASX: SGR) profit dropped 38% because high-rolling international VIP gamblers won more times than expected. The lucky high-rolling VIPs put an $80 million dent in the group's profits.
Wednesday:
0.43 cents – Energy giant Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) slashed its dividend payout for shareholders after its full year profit slumped to US$26 million ($36.62 million). Woodside cut its final dividend to US$0.43 cents a share, way below the US$1.44 payout a year ago.
Thursday:
6.0 per cent – Australia's unemployment rate rose to 6.0 per cent in January, which missed market expectations. The total number of people with jobs fell 7,900 in the month, compared to expectations of a rise of 15,000.
Friday:
(-$2.7 billion) – Yet another energy player to be hit by tumbling oil prices, this time Santos Ltd (ASX: STO), which has reported a full year net loss of $2.7 billion, after taking impairments of $3.9 billion against its production assets.
