Cyber Monday Deal: Up to 60% off InvestingProCLAIM SALE

Australia shares close up, see best week since March-end; NZ gains

Published 16/06/2017, 05:07 pm
© Reuters.  Australia shares close up, see best week since March-end; NZ gains
AXJO
-
BHP
-
ANZ
-
RIO
-
NAB
-
RIO
-
AXFJ
-
SYD
-

(Updates to close)

June 16 (Reuters) - Australian shares pared early advances on Friday even as they notched their biggest weekly gain in over two months, as losses in the basic materials and industrials sectors weighed.

The S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO ended up 0.2 percent, or 10.81 points, at 5,774.

The benchmark, which fell 1.2 percent on Thursday, added 1.7 percent on the week, its best weekly performance week since March-end.

Analysts attributed some of this week's gain to buying by self-managed super funds (SMSF) and net purchases by foreigners.

Tony Farnham, an economist with Patersons Securities, said individuals have been buying shares ahead of July 1, when superannuation regulations change.

Among the 'Big Four' banks, National Australia Bank NAB.AX and ANZ ANZ.AX were the biggest gainers on the benchmark by weight, up 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent respectively.

"We've got the bank levy and other uncertainties, but at the moment I think there's a degree of confidence that profit numbers pre-bank levy were quite solid and dividend yields were still solid to retail investors," Farnham said.

The financial index .AXFJ gained 2.5 percent this week.

Basic materials shares, however, remained pressured by continuing weakness in commodity prices, compounded by a poor outlook.

Rio Tinto (LON:RIO) RIO.AX was 0.3 percent lower and rival BHP BHP.AX declined marginally.

Industrials were hurt by Sydney Airport Holdings SYD.AX shares, which shed 2.3 percent and were the biggest drag on the main board.

New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 index .NZ50 was 0.5 percent, or 36.40 points, higher at 7,552.75.

It added 1.6 percent on the week.

Consumer stocks were the biggest gainers driven up by a2 Milk ATM.NZ shares, which added 8.2 percent after the dairy products maker raised its full-year group revenue forecast earlier in the day.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.