The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) finished Friday down by 5.3%. The ASX 200 initially opened up strongly after the buoyant day in the US overnight. But between the intra-day high and the low point at the end of the day, the ASX dropped 7.5%.
There hasn't been an end to the number of coronavirus updates today:
More COVID-19 updates
Outdoor retailer Kathmandu Holdings Ltd (ASX: KMD) announced it was shutting all of its stores. Its share price rose 13% today.
The share price of Breville Group Limited (ASX: BRG) rose 1% after withdrawing its FY20 guidance.
The share price of Retail Food Group Limited (ASX: RFG) dropped 9% after giving another update.
The share price of resources business Senex Energy Ltd (ASX: SXY) went up 13.8% after giving an update.
Energy giant Woodside Petroleum Limited (ASX: WPL) gave an update today, which sent its share price down 6.4% by the end of the day.
Home furnishings businesses Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) announced the temporary closure of all stores, causing the share price to drop 8.9%.
The share price of aged care business Japara Healthcare Ltd (ASX: JHC) rose 7.7% after the company gave an update yesterday after the market had closed.
More Australian rule changes
The Prime Minister said today that from now on the only children who would be going to school are those that can't get suitable care arrangements.
The hotel industry is going to help with the 14-day quarantining that travellers will need to isolate when arriving back into the state. It's a useful suggestion because many hotels had seen their occupancy fall to below 20%.
States continue to see the number of infections grow, which is why they are implementing more social distancing rules. People have been banned from going to some of Melbourne's most popular beaches.
NIB Holdings Limited (ASX: NHF) looks to help out
Private health insurer NIB has outlined a number of ways it's going to help during this crisis.
NIB will be giving premium relief for people in financial hardship. It has extended coverage for chest, lung, kidney and bladder or other treatment relating to COVID-19 until the crisis passes. People can also suspend their premium payments for six months whilst being covered for COVID-19.
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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended NIB Holdings Limited. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
