The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) fell 1.98% lower yesterday as coronavirus concerns continue to grip global markets. Some of the biggest Aussie companies lost value as investors flocked to safer assets. But amidst the doom and gloom of the pandemic, there are still some positives to take away.
Here are 3 ASX 200 shares that climbed higher yesterday and gave investors something to smile about.
G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM)
The G8 Education share price surged 28.57% higher yesterday in some good news for shareholders. G8 is Australia's largest provider of early childhood education and care with more than 58,000 children attending over 470 centres.
The ASX 200 group's shares are now up 68.75% this week alone thanks to government support for the child care sector. Child care centres will stay open and be free for parents as part of the government's pandemic stimulus. That's good news for operators like G8 as it provides some certainty at a time when COVID-19 threatened its business model.
Santos Ltd (ASX: STO)
The Santos share price jumped 5.87% on Thursday in some good news for shareholders. Santos shares are still down 43% in the last month thanks largely to COVID-19 and an ongoing oil price war.
The ASX 200 oil and gas group shed staff and shut down its offices in a bid to cut costs and ensure the business' longevity. Investors were bullish on the shares after a month of selling off which sparked the share price surge.
NEXTDC Ltd (ASX: NXT)
NEXTDC was another good news story from the ASX 200 after a successful equity raising. The Aussie data centre operator undertook a $672 million institutional placement to secure its balance sheet and fund its expansion plans.
The ASX 200 data centre operator remains in a trading halt but it's good news for other Aussie companies. I think NEXTDC could be in the buy zone and it looks like institutional investors are backing that view right now as well.
