Positive offshore leads have provided local investors with the confidence to start the week off on a positive note, with the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX:XJO) gaining 0.8% to 5,541 points.
Except for gold, most sectors are enjoying a solid day of gains with the financial and energy sectors leading the way.
Five shares that are putting in stand-out performances today, include:
Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN)
Shares of the regional bank have surged more than 4.1% today after the company reported FY16 earnings that were broadly in line with expectations. Underlying cash earnings were $439.3 million, a 1.6% increase on the prior corresponding period (pcp) with a final dividend of 34 cents per share. Interestingly, the company noted that there remains fierce competition in the mortgage market although it has maintained an "extremely positive" outlook. Today's result has also been welcomed by investors in the big four banks with their share prices all gaining between 1%-2%.
FlexiGroup Limited (ASX: FXL) and Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT)
Investors have today cheered a new deal between the two companies that will see Flight Centre offer interest-free deals for retail travellers provided through FlexiGroup. Both shares have been out of favour recently but this agreement appears to be a good one for both companies with the option of interest free travelling likely to be very popular amongst younger travellers. This should help to boost transaction volumes across both companies. Shares of Flight Centre have climbed 4.9% on the back of the news, with FlexiGroup shares rising 3.8% to $2.17.
Paragon Care Ltd. (ASX: PGC)
Paragon Care shares have surged more than 14% today after the medical supplies company reported a strong lift in FY16 profits. Acquisitions played a major part in boosting this year's result with revenues and earnings increasing by 190% and 257%, respectively. Although earnings per share (EPS) only increased by 75% to 5.6 cents as a result of a capital raising to fund the acquisitions, the result was still quite robust with Paragon Care maintaining a positive growth outlook. The company also declared a final dividend of 1.4 cents per share, taking the full year dividend to 2.2 cents per share.
Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN)
Shares of Ansell have climbed more than 4.8% today and have broken above the $20 level for the first time since April. The company has not released any news today but it appears as though a broker upgrade has triggered a wave of buying with UBS raising the shares from neutral to a buy. Ansell has struggled for the best part of 18 months following a number of profit downgrades, unfavourable currency movements and anaemic sales growth. Investors will, therefore, be looking forward to seeing how the company is progressing when it delivers its full year result on 15 August.
