Australian shares gain on sign of cooling labour market

Australian shares gain on sign of cooling labour market

Australian shares have bounced again from yesterday’s losses after a shock rise in jobless claims signalled the labour market is cooling.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index closed 58.1 factors, or 0.79 per cent increased, at 7,410.3 on Thursday.

The broader All Ordinaries gained 61.6 factors, or 0.81 per cent, to 7,620.7.

The market was in optimistic territory with a 38-point achieve earlier than the Australian Bureau of Statistics launched jobs figures at 11.30am AEDT, after optimistic US gross sales figures drove Wall Street up in a single day.

Unemployment jumped to three.7 per cent in January, defying economist expectations it might maintain regular at 3.5 per cent.

It’s the second consecutive month of job losses for the Australian financial system.

Counterintuitively, the market welcomed the report, climbing one other 23.6 factors by shut.

“For investors, bad news is good news with the worse than expected job numbers strengthening the case for an earlier pause in interest rate hikes,” State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETF fairness strategist Julia Lee advised AAP.

Eight of the 11 ASX sectors completed up, with power and utilities within the crimson and financials mainly flat.

The shopper discretionary sector was the most effective performer, up 2.7 per cent after the US Commerce Department reported retail gross sales rose three per cent final month, trouncing expectations.

Wesfarmers grew 4.0 per cent to a one-year excessive of $51.32, Domino Pizza Enterprises added 4.2 per cent to $72.35 and Super Retail Group climbed 4.4 per cent to $12.50 after the Supercheap Auto and Rebel Sports proprietor introduced first-half revenue was up 30 per cent to $144 million.

Technology shares additionally outperformed, led by Appen which rose 9.9 per cent to $2.90, and Block rising 9.3 per cent to $122.10.

Logistics software program supplier Wisetech gained 3.2 per cent to $58.62.

Elsewhere, the heavyweight mining sector was up 0.5 per cent because the iron ore miners gained however the gold miners fell.

BHP rose 0.4 per cent to $48.12 and Rio Tinto completed 0.3 per cent increased at $123.68.

Fortescue lifted 1.5 per cent, recovering yesterday’s losses following a discount in dividends.

Newcrest slid 1.7 per cent to $23.90 after Australia’s greatest goldminer rejected a tentative takeover supply from the world’s greatest, Newmont.

Newcrest’s board mentioned it had provided to supply Newmont with extra personal info in an try to attract the next proposal.

Northern Star and Evolution had been down three per cent and two per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, Perenti shares sunk 9.5 per cent to $1.09, because the mining contractor continues to seek for two miners lacking at Dugald River in northern Queensland.

Telstra was up 1.9 per cent to a one-year excessive of $4.22 because the telco lifted its interim dividend after posting a 26 per cent bounce in first-half revenue.

“We are a growing business with a lot to be excited about in our future,” new CEO Vicki Brady mentioned.

The large banks had been combined, with two up and two down.

As rates of interest rise, lenders are strolling a tightrope between elevated income and the specter of rising defaults and downside loans, mentioned Ms Lee.

CBA slid one other 1.5 per cent to $101.50 after shedding 5.7 per cent the day prior, regardless of reporting elevated earnings.

Westpac was additionally down, dropping 0.3 per cent to $22.76, whereas NAB lifted 0.7 per cent to $30.51 and ANZ gained 0.6 per cent to $24.92.

Coalminers Whitehaven, Yancoal and New Hope suffered hefty losses after the NSW authorities confirmed producers wouldn’t obtain compensation as a part of its coal reservation coverage.

Domain shares jumped 3.9 per cent to $3.18, regardless of the web actual property market saying a 39 per cent dip in earnings.

AMP, nevertheless, was not spared the wrath of the market. The wealth supervisor’s shares plummeted 13.4 per cent to $113.50 after its full-year revenue got here in beneath consensus expectations.

At the opposite finish of the spectrum was Sonic Healthcare, which surged 14.3 per cent to $33.20 after a optimistic half-year earnings report.

The Australian greenback was shopping for 69.19 US cents, from 69.35 at Wednesday’s ASX shut.

ON THE ASX:

* The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index completed Thursday up 58.1 factors, or 0.79 per cent, at 7,410.3.

* The broader All Ordinaries rose 61.6 factors, or 0.81 per cent, to 7,620.7.

CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:

One Australian greenback buys:

* 69.19 US cents, from 69.35 US cents at Wednesday’s ASX shut

* 92.57 Japanese yen, from 92.23 Japanese yen

* 64.59 Euro cents, from 64.67 Euro cents

* 57.42 British pence, from 57.04 pence

* 109.79 NZ cents, from 110.00 NZ cents.

Source: www.perthnow.com.au