• The ASX was up 0.35% on Friday, down 0.6% for the week
  • Coles said its sales increased by 6.5% in the quarter
  • Property group Mirvac cut earnings guidance

 

The ASX pared gains after opening higher by 1% in the morning. At day’s close, the index finished 0.2% higher but lost 0.7% for the week.

Staples and Healthcare sectors fell 1% each, while the Real Estate overperformed, up 1%.

Major banks posted gains as fears of further banking meltdown contagion in the US eased.

Coles (ASX:COL) was down 2% after reporting a 6.5% increase in group revenue to $9.97 billion for the third quarter.

Coles said it opened one new store and closed two stores, taking the total network to 841 supermarkets during the quarter.

Meanwhile, Australia’s March quarter PPI rose 1% on-quarter and 5.2% on-year.

Key drivers for the increase were rises in electricity and gas prices. Building construction materials also increased amid strong demand in non-residential construction.

Australia’s total credit growth also rose 6.8% on-year versus 7.8% a year ago. Housing credit growth remained at 0.3% on-month, while personal credit growth slowed to -0.3%.

 

New BoJ governor keeps rates steady

Elsewhere, the new Bank of Japan (BoJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda has presided over his first BoJ’s monetary policy decision outcome.

Ueda kept Japan’s ultra-low interest rates steady, but announced a broad review of its monetary policy, including revising its forward guidance. The JPY slumped after the decision.

India’s defense chief and his Chinese counterpart have met amid strained relations over their contested Himalayan border. China said that it hoped the two militaries will work together to strengthen mutual trust.

Closer to home, the Property Council of Australia has praised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s plan to halve the withholding tax on foreign investment.

The Council said this could help fuel the delivery of as many as 150,000 apartments over the next decade.

 

BIG CAP WINNERS

Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.

Code Name Price % Change Volume Market Cap
PLS Pilbara Min Ltd 4.23 6.69% 42,547,052 $11,872,133,535
EMR Emerald Res NL 1.93 6.65% 1,846,350 $1,071,810,774
SNZ Summerset Grp Hldgs 7.75 5.87% 1,465 $1,705,361,445
PDN Paladin Energy Ltd 0.66 5.20% 11,272,920 $1,862,579,604
CXO Core Lithium 0.98 4.26% 11,168,178 $1,747,005,786
AKE Allkem Limited 12.3 4.24% 5,445,919 $7,524,365,415
RWC Reliance Worldwide 4.09 4.07% 1,864,064 $3,105,072,426
DOW Downer EDI Limited 3.59 4.06% 1,326,131 $2,316,929,193
MEZ Meridian Energy 4.91 3.81% 88,526 $5,981,058,834
CDA Codan Limited 7.27 3.64% 398,953 $1,269,988,339
ABC Adbri Limited 1.59 3.58% 2,645,979 $1,001,783,297
MGR Mirvac Group 2.41 3.43% 27,220,539 $9,193,854,306
PPT Perpetual Limited 24.63 3.27% 277,219 $2,683,544,569
NWL Netwealth Group 13.61 3.26% 106,488 $3,214,484,606
STX Strike Energy Ltd 0.48 3.26% 3,063,272 $1,154,991,790
APM APM Human Services 1.9 3.13% 530,745 $1,687,614,781
Wordpress Table Plugin

Emerald Resources (ASX:EMR) rose 7% after announcing that it  achieved its March 2023 quarter guidance with gold production of 28.8koz at an AISC of US$793/oz.

EMR has also maintained its June 2023 full year guidance, with gold production remaining at 25-30koz per quarter with AISC US$740 – US$810/oz.

Porperty company Mirvac Group (ASX:MGR) rose 4% despite cutting its earnings guidance for FY23 due to sustained adverse weather conditions impacting residential settlement.

The company also provided guidance, saying that it now expects FY23 operating earnings per share of at least 14.7 cents a share, from at least 15.5 cents in the previous guidance.

 

BIG CAP LOSERS

Swipe or scroll to reveal the full table. Click headings to sort.

Code Name Price % Change Volume Market Cap
IMD Imdex Limited 209 -4.5662 673,147 $1,106,945,664
ALD Ampol Limited 2996 -3.4483 507,048 $7,394,514,132
TLX Telix Pharmaceutical 1017 -3.4188 1,325,293 $3,342,450,617
CMM Capricorn Metals 444 -3.268 325,017 $1,724,730,023
AIZ Air New Zealand 69.5 -2.7972 1,819,540 $2,408,451,985
NST Northern Star 1349 -2.7397 2,608,076 $15,949,743,530
PRU Perseus Mining Ltd 224.5 -2.3913 2,410,189 $3,146,369,755
RRL Regis Resources 213 -2.2936 1,947,541 $1,645,956,517
RMS Ramelius Resources 131.25 -2.0522 2,030,755 $1,170,153,219
WAF West African Res Ltd 97.5 -2.0101 1,287,446 $1,018,459,858
PNV Polynovo Limited 163.5 -1.8018 679,539 $1,149,237,530
Wordpress Table Plugin