The S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX:XJO) was eventful yet again this week. Here are four big stories you may have missed that affected the ASX 200 index:
Takeovers continue
The market may be heading downwards but the thirst for takeovers of ASX businesses continues.
This week Healius Ltd (ASX: HLS), which used to be called Primary Health Care, is the takeover target of Chinese-based Jangho. The potential takeover price is $3.25 per share.
Expensive storm damage
The shareholders of Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN) and Insurance Australia Group Ltd (ASX: IAG) are counting the costs of the latest hailstorm in Sydney.
Paying out insurance damage from storms is just part of doing business, but seeing a hit to profit of more than $150 million each can be painful nonetheless.
House prices keep falling
This week CoreLogic revealed that Australian house prices fell during December, Sydney prices dropped 1.8% and Melbourne prices fell 1.5%.
At the time of the CoreLogic announcement share prices of big banks like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) and Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) declined.
Worries mount about retail shares
Investors are starting to worry about what the falling housing market may be doing to retail businesses. This week Kathmandu Holdings Ltd (ASX: KMD) revealed that December sales were lower than expected.
Will this have the same effect on JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH) and Nick Scali Limited (ASX: NCK)? We'll just have to see.
At this stage I do believe there are better investment opportunities out there than JB Hi-Fi.
