Australian Stocks Rebound; Aurizon, Newcrest and Santos in Focus

Marcus Jacob
17 Aug, 2015
New York City

Australian market indexes rose in weak trading as investors looked for bargains and commodities were on the defensive. Aurizon Holdings reported nearly flat revenues. Newcrest Mining swung to annual profit after revenues rose 8%.

[R]5:30 PM Sydney, Australia – Australian market indexes rose in weak trading as investors looked for bargains and commodities were on the defensive. Aurizon Holdings reported nearly flat revenues. Newcrest Mining swung to annual profit after revenues rose 8%.[/R]

Australian market indexes rose and the Aussie dollar closed unchanged after commodities were on the defensive in Asian markets.

Australian dollar closed at 73.74 U.S. cents and in stock trading turnover fell to 534 million shares worth $4.3 billion.

At close, the ASX 200 Index rose 11.20 or 0.2% to 5,367.70 and the broader All Ordinaries Index added 8.60 to 5,368.60.

In commodities trading, gold gained US$3 to US$1,118 an ounce and Brent crude fell 0.46 cents to close at US$48.73 a barrel.

IPO

MyFiziq Limited closed unchanged at 14 cents after the fitness software developer priced its stock at 20 cents.

The stock opened and closed at 14 cents.

Australian Stock Movers

Aurizon Holdings Ltd closed unchanged at $5.24 after the integrated miner reported total revenues in the year ending in June fell 1% to $3.78 billion form $3.82 billion a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter surged 138.7% to $604 million compared to $253 million and diluted earnings per share jumped to 28.3 cents from 11.8 cents in the same period a year ago.

Mesoblast limited closed unchanged at $3.61 after the bio-therapeutics treatment provider said revenues in the year ending in June declined 8.6% to $23.75 million form $25.98 million a year ago period.

Net loss in the quarter widened to $119.37 million compared to $80.96 million and diluted loss per share increased to 37.20 cents from 25.34 cents in the same period a year ago.

Newcrest Mining Limited closed unchanged at $11.44 after the gold producer reported revenues in the year ending in June jumped 8% to $4.34 billion form $4.04 billion a year ago period.

Net in the quarter swung to profit $546 million compared to a loss of $2.22 billion and diluted earnings per share swung to 70.9 cents from 289.8 cents in the same period a year ago.

The gold miner called-off the proposed sale of its Telfer gold mine in Australia to maintain the overall gold production this year.

Santos Ltd plunged 7.7% to $5.98 after the oil and gas producer confirmed that the miner is not looking to raise additional capital and the company has $2 billion in cash and undrawn bank debt facilities.

The company added production was up 13% in the first-half and production is expected to rise more in the next few years as the liquefied natural gas plant of Curtis Island is on track to completion.