Although it was trading in the red late in the afternoon, the ASX 200 managed to regain its composure to end the session slightly higher. It was the fifth session in a row that the ASX 200 recorded a gain.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) up 0.1% to 5562 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) up 0.1% to 5643 points
- AUD/USD at US 75.22 cents
- Iron Ore at US$60.70 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,334.06 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$43.14 a barrel
The iron ore miners failed to fire, despite a strong lift in the price of iron ore overnight. BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) fell 2.3%. Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) lost 2.1%. And Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) dropped 4.1%.
The energy producers mostly dropped as well, although the gold miners enjoyed the day. Gold stock Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) lifted 4.6%, whereas Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) shed 2.1%.
Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) was the best of the banks, rising 0.9%. Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) rose a modest 0.5%. And Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) gained 0.3%.
ResMed Inc. (CHESS) (ASX: RMD) and Bega Cheese Ltd (ASX: BGA) were two of the market's best performers today. They rose 6.9% each.
Aconex Ltd (ASX: ACX), on the other hand, fell 4.5%.
Here are Friday's top stories:
- 5 hot tech stocks to buy and hold for 5 years
- Could this under-the-radar stock be the next Google?
- Revealed: My 3 favourite top-20 ASX shares to buy today
- ResMed lifts dividends 10% as investors look to Brightree impact
- Chart: The 7 ways Woolworths Limited makes money
- What's up with the Medibank share price?
- Is Crown Resorts Ltd a buy at this share price?
