Local shares got off to a slow start this morning but gradually worked their way into the black thanks, in part, to some solid earnings results.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) up 0.5% to 5651 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) up 0.5% to 5703 points
- AUD/USD at US 76.37 cents
- Iron Ore at US$80.60 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,234.44 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$54.54 a barrel
Premier Investments Limited (ASX: PMV) shares soared 11.9% after it released a market update this morning. It said total sales for the first-half were a record $588.6 million, up 7.1% on the prior corresponding period, while its underlying earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) are expected to rise at least 9.4%.
Online classifieds business Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR) shares also drove 7.8% higher despite a dip in first-half earnings.
Chocolate maker Yowie Group Ltd (ASX: YOW) rallied another 8.9% as well after it announced it would reintroduce the brand into Australia. And Specialty Fashion Group Ltd. (ASX: SFH) soared 26% following a takeover approach.
Other big jumpers included Seven Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: SVW), whose shares rallied 14.4%, Cimic Group Ltd (ASX: CIM) gained 7.6% and TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPM) rose 4.3%.
Of course, there were some businesses that didn't fare so well today, too. EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) slipped 2.1% and 3.3%, respectively, while Galaxy Resources Limited (ASX: GXY) dropped 5.9%.
Genworth Mortgage Insurance Australia (ASX: GMA) shares also plummeted 14.8%.
Here are Wednesday's top stories:
