Despite a positive start to the session, Australian shares fell again on Friday. Thankfully, they did recover some of their losses late in the session, but the main bourse still recorded a 2.7% decline for the week.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.2% to 5283 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.1% to 5370 points
- AUD/USD at US 75.97 cents
- Iron Ore at US$63.04 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,270.29 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$50.45 a barrel
Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) reported same-store sales growth at its Australian food stores for the first time in a year this morning.
Although its shares rose initially, they ended the day 2.3% lower. Its rival Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) ended the day flat.
A number of other blue-chips suffered today. AMP Limited (ASX: AMP) was crushed 9.1% following a downgrade, while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ASX: ANZ) shed 1.7% after it announced $100 million in additional restructuring costs this morning.
APN News and Media Limited (ASX: APN) slumped another 2.1%. Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR) reversed 4.3%. And Ardent Leisure Group (ASX: AAD) drifted 5.1% lower too.
Among the market's best were Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) and Independence Group NL (ASX: IGO), which rose 3.5% and 4.1%, while Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC) gained 5.9%.
South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) rose 5.4%, with BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG) up 2.1% and 1.7% as well.
Here are Friday's top stories:
- Woolworths Limited returns to growth, are its shares a buy?
- Why Australia and New Zealand Banking Group shares are falling on $360 million of charges
- AMP Limited share price crunched
- Here's why the Carsales.Com Ltd share price is sinking today
- This is your 6-step plan for playing this wobbly, wobbly stock market
- Australia's Top 10 largest listed software companies
- Macquarie Group Ltd dividend surges, what you need to know
