Last Orders: ASX retreats by 0.31 per cent with only resources and utilities in the green

Pic: Stevica Mrdja / EyeEm / EyeEm via Getty Images

The ASX 200 closed at 7,270 points, 0.31 per cent lower than yesterday, while the ASX Emerging Companies Index gained 0.17 per cent to close at 2,163.

Utilities was the best performing sector, up by 0.37 per cent while resources gained 0.25 per cent. All other sectors were in the red with the worst being consumer staples which lost 1.44 per cent.

The top two stocks were joint venture partners Coda Minerals (ASX:COD) and Torrens Mining (ASX:TRN)) which rose 235 per cent and 100 per cent respectively.

The pair reported intersecting 200 metres of intense Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) alteration including ~50m of copper sulphides at the ‘Elizabeth Creek’ project in South Australia.

ANNOUNCEMENTS YOU MAY’VE MISSED

Regional Express (ASX:REX) has revised its interim guidance in light of the latest round of state border closures on lockdowns. Having previously forecasted a break-even, it is now tipping a full year loss before tax of $15 million.

Construction materials company Brickworks (ASX:BKW) told shareholders the industrial property boom is reaping significant dividends. It is tipping property earnings between $240 million and $260 million – up from $129 million in the prior year.

Electricity company Mercury (ASX:MCY) also gave guidance for FY21 but it was a downgrade from previous guidance. It is tipping earnings between $460 and $520 million due to a decrease in hydro generation and the outage of its Kawerau geothermal power station.

Fremont Petroleum (ASX:FPL) expects oil sales for this quarter to exceed 20,500 barrels of oil. This is a significant increase from the 12,894 barrels sold in the March quarter.

Epsilon Healthcare (ASX:EPN) is supplying a cannabidiol medicine to a clinical trial run by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. The trial will study if cannabidiol medicines can treat severe behaviour problems in youth with intellectual disabilities.

Energy retailer Locality Planning Energy Holdings (ASX:LPE) told shareholders it broke through the milestone of 40,000 customers. It says customer additions are up 31 per cent from levels seen 12 months ago and would meet its guidance of 10,000 more customers in FY21.