Local shares ended lower today. It's likely this was partially due to the Reserve Bank's meeting minutes which provided no real indication regarding whether it is likely to cut interest rates again anytime soon.
That said, the RBA board did express some concern about low inflation and the rising Australian dollar which arguably could force its hand again sometime in the foreseeable future.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.1% at 5,532.0
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.1% at 5,625.7
- AUD/USD at US 77.13 cents
- Iron Ore at US$59.37 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,349.27 an ounce, according to Bloomberg
- Brent oil at US$48.05 a barrel
A number of widely-held shares were hit hard today on what the market perceived to be poor earnings results.
G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM) was one such business, shedding 12.5% to $3.23. Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd. (ASX: DMP) was another, losing 3.7% to close at $74.11.
Meanwhile, BWX Ltd (ASX: BWX) shares fell 14.3% as well following their own earnings report. Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB) fell 16.2%. Mantra Group Ltd (ASX: MTR) shed 4.7%. And InvoCare Limited (ASX: IVC) lost 4.3%.
On a more positive note, Orora Ltd (ASX: ORA) shares lifted another 4.3% while Aconex Ltd (ASX: ACX) rose 3.5% to $8.05.
Shares of BHP Billiton Limited (AS: BHP) traded cautiously higher, rising 0.5% ahead of their earnings results this afternoon. Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS), on the other hand, fell 1.1% to $5.43 and National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) declined 0.6% to $27.04.
Here are Tuesday's top stories:
- Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd delivers gangbusters growth, is it a buy?
- Why Warren Buffett is Taking a Bigger Bite of Apple Stock
- Smashed: G8 Education Ltd shares plunge 15%
- Challenger Ltd shares soar on blockbuster annuity sales
- 7 small cap bargains I'd buy right now with $7,000
- InvoCare Limited drops on results announcement, is it a bargain?
