Local shares enjoyed a strong return to form today, helping to ease the pain of recent losses.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) up 1.4% to 5082 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) up 1.4% to 5151 points
- AUD/USD at US 76.56 cents
- Iron Ore at US$54.18 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,228.07 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$39.64 a barrel
They've been the market laggards recently, but today they were its stars.
Each of Australia's big four banks rose strongly, led by National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB). Its shares gained 2.3%, while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) all rose between 1.5% and 2.2%.
BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) also rose more than 1.4% each, after strong gains in London overnight, while Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) lifted 2.1%.
IPH Limited (ASX: IPH) and Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB) were two of the market's top performers, rising 6.5% and 6.6%. EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) failed to rise with the market, falling 1.9% instead.
Here are Thursday's top stories:
- What shares will you buy with your share of $19 billion in dividends?
- Down 36: Do Australia and New Zealand Banking Group shares have further to fall?
- 6 hot resources stocks on investors' radars
- Worried about getting old? You should be
- How Medibank Private Ltd could slash costs and lift profits
- 4 ASX Technology Shares You Need to Know About
- Are you worried about your Westpac Banking Corp shares?
