• The ASX declined for 4th day in a row
  • Qantas, Eagers and Platinum were some of the companies to report earnings today
  • The RBA is looking for candidates

 

The ASX 200 notched up another down day, its fourth straight this week.

But heading into afternoon trade, US equity futures in Asia were pointing up, signalling that a rebound could be in store for the S&P 500 later tonight.

Earnings continue to rule the day for the local market, and today we saw Qantas (ASX:QAN) posting a $1.4bn profit for the half vs the $456 million loss it reported a year ago.

But investors apparently weren’t too pleased with the turnaround job as the QAN share price fell over 6% today.

Eagers Automotive (ASX:APE) rose 9% after delivering a record underlying operating profit before tax of $405.2m.

Medibank Private (ASX:MBL) looks to have left its cyberattack woes behind as its share price lifted 6% following a 6% increase in NPAT to $233.3m.

Bega Cheese (ASX:BGA) meanwhile disappointed and tumbled 7% as EBITDA for the half plunged -26% to $71.6m.

BHP (ASX:BHP) fell 3% and is at a 2-month low despite a strong half report two days ago.

Platinum Asset Management (ASX:PTM) was the worst performer today, down 16%, after it reported a 37% slide in interim profits as declining funds under management slashed revenues.

Mewnwhile, Bloomberg has reported that the Australian government is seeking expressions of interest from potential candidates to join the RBA’s rate-setting board, the first time the role has been advertised.

This comes as the terms of two existing non-executive members are due to expire soon. Separately, deputy governor Michele Bullock will be speaking later today at 4.15pm AEDT.

China has apparently closed a number of schools across the country to halt the spread of Covid. This came as 10 students in the same classroom tested positive for Covid in the city of Hangzhou.

Consecutive days of jumps saw iron ore prices rebound towards an 8-month high, with the Singapore iron ore futures up 1% to $US131.05 per tonne today.

And later tonight, we expect to see key reports out of the US, including Q4 GDP, initial jobless claims, and Fedspeak by Bostic and Daly.

 

BIG CAP WINNERS

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Code Name Price % Change Volume Market cap
QUB Qube Holdings Ltd 3.26 9.03 8,294,979 $5,279,629,947
APE Eagers Automotive 12.98 8.80 1,063,719 $3,046,899,321
MPL Medibank Private Ltd 3.28 6.33 13,773,339 $8,482,329,979
WBT Weebit Nano Ltd 6.50 6.04 1,106,210 $1,064,418,441
SYA Sayona Mining Ltd 0.23 5.81 14,874,887 $1,868,269,240
MAQ Macquarie Telecom 59.28 5.48 7,192 $1,211,968,567
TLC The Lottery Corp 5.10 4.84 7,526,954 $10,817,250,477
KLS Kelsian Group Ltd 6.56 4.79 318,151 $1,368,071,580
PRU Perseus Mining Ltd 1.97 4.10 2,772,500 $2,584,505,284
BFL Bsp Financial Group 5.10 4.08 35,510 $2,289,377,897
TLX Telix Pharmaceutical 6.54 3.97 423,604 $1,994,071,808
WTC Wisetech Global Ltd 60.52 3.97 549,236 $19,145,434,899
PSI Psc Insurance Ltd 5.08 3.89 116,369 $1,732,188,500
PLS Pilbara Min Ltd 4.43 3.87 21,808,270 $12,771,515,081
NSR National Storage 2.42 3.42 2,079,500 $2,808,055,935
AIA Auckland Internation 8.05 3.34 570,275 $11,471,173,357
CGC Costa Group Holdings 2.53 3.27 850,984 $1,138,138,842
YAL Yancoal Aust Ltd 6.03 3.25 1,910,615 $7,711,366,312
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Qube (ASX:QUB) rose 9% as underlying revenue climbed 23%, and underlying NPATA was up 37% for the half.

Kelsian (ASX:KLS) climbed 5% as underlying NPAT increased by 21.6% to $26.5 million.

 

BIG CAP LOSERS

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Code Name Price % Change Volume Market Cap
PTM Platinum Asset 1.91 -16.34 6,947,492 $1,337,627,892
BGA Bega Cheese Ltd 3.31 -8.06 3,819,512 $1,094,034,877
BKL Blackmores Limited 79.03 -6.67 68,804 $1,646,899,573
QAN Qantas Airways 6.06 -6.41 25,768,009 $11,755,059,439
OBL Omni Bridgeway Ltd 3.64 -6.19 384,767 $1,082,743,003
PXA Pexagroup 12.26 -6.13 710,657 $2,315,874,791
JBH JB Hi-Fi Limited 42.79 -5.98 439,362 $4,975,789,475
SDR Siteminder 3.84 -5.88 511,499 $1,121,407,878
RRL Regis Resources 1.78 -4.05 2,686,995 $1,396,797,961
REH Reece Limited 15.90 -3.75 443,199 $10,671,658,670
VNT Ventiaservicesgroup 2.39 -3.63 1,701,503 $2,121,601,424
HMC HMC Capital Limited 4.33 -3.56 354,495 $1,350,489,381
NEC Nine Entertainment 2.00 -3.16 14,578,678 $3,513,110,101
JDO Judo Cap Holdings 1.39 -3.14 833,041 $1,586,421,016
BHP BHP Group Limited 46.84 -3.10 8,881,491 $244,881,765,677
AUI Australian United In 9.90 -3.04 15,239 $1,288,311,737
CRN Coronado Global Res 1.93 -3.02 6,777,310 $3,327,760,654
DUI Diversified United 4.88 -2.98 50,253 $1,090,359,257
IEL Idp Education Ltd 29.51 -2.91 827,395 $8,458,637,452
IFL Insignia Financial 3.37 -2.88 2,636,315 $2,284,712,879
BPT Beach Energy Limited 1.43 -2.73 6,897,566 $3,342,153,806
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Blackmores (ASX:BKL) fell 6% despite a 20% increase in statutory NPAT to $24.3m.

Star Entertainment Group (ASX:SGR) fell 3% after posting a net loss after tax of $1.3 billion for the December half.