Today was an up day for the S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) index, which rose 0.5% to 5,271 points.
A number of shares rose significantly further however, including one of the big banks. Here's what you need to know:
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) rose 4% to $24.75 after what can only be described as a shocking half-year report that saw cash profits decline 24% and the company's dividend slashed by 7%. Return on equity was cut by a third, and impairments jumped heavily. ANZ also appeared to be softening up investors for additional impairments when it claimed that the Group was repositioning for "for stronger profit before provisions growth in the future" (emphasis added). However, it seems that perhaps investors had prepared for an even worse result.
ANZ shares are down 28% in the past 12 months.
Mobile Embrace Ltd (ASX: MBE) leapt 13% to $0.395 after management released an earnings update confirming that the $156 million company would generate greater than $60 million in revenue and greater than $9 million in Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) for the 2016 financial year. With diverse geographical operations and a number of opportunities, the company also appears set to achieve further growth in 2017, although it may need to source more funds if management wants to make additional acquisitions.
Mobile Embrace shares are up 84% in the past 12 months.
Lifehealthcare Group Ltd (ASX: LHC) jumped 10% to $1.48 after the company released a non-market sensitive Investor Conference presentation this morning. Management announced that Lifehealthcare had been successful at securing capital equipment tenders, and that working capital should improve in the second half of the year. A more detailed breakdown of revenue likely also allayed investor fears about impacts on the pricing of prosthetics, which makes up 55% of the company's revenue.
Lifehealthcare shares are down 55% in the past 12 months.
Yowie Group Ltd (ASX: YOW) gained 8% to $0.90 after management announced today that the company would be progressively placed in a further 10,000 independent convenience stores in the USA as those store operators update their layouts in coming months. Once the rollout is complete, it should give Yowie placement in around 10% of total US convenience stores, where the chocolate has been a strong seller.
Recent diversification into licensing other brands runs the risk of diverting management's focus from the core Yowie brand however, and the rapid release of multiple positive announcements in the past month looks a little hype-y. Yowie shares are up 15% in the past 12 months.
