🤑 It doesn’t get more affordable. Grab this 60% OFF Black Friday offer before it disappears…CLAIM SALE

Australia shares fall as ANZ capital raising sends jitters through sector

Published 06/08/2015, 12:41 pm
Updated 06/08/2015, 12:46 pm
© Reuters.  Australia shares fall as ANZ capital raising sends jitters through sector
AXJO
-
DBKGn
-
BHP
-
CBA
-
FMG
-
ANZ
-
RIO
-
BHPB
-
ORG
-
NAB
-
RIO
-
STO
-
WBC
-
WDS
-

* Banks fall after ANZ announces capital raising

* Employment gain not convincing to lift market

* Resources rise on higher iron ore price (Adds analysis, quotes, stocks on the move)

SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Australian shares saw their sharpest fall in two weeks on Thursday as investors shrugged off commodities gains and upbeat economic data and sold bank stocks amid fresh concerns about how hard they will be hit by tough new capital rules.

By 0214 GMT, the S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO was down 0.7 percent or 39.4 points at 5,634, its biggest drop since July 22.

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ.AX , the country's third-largest lender by market value, said it was raising A$3 billion by selling shares at a 5 percent discount to comply with new rules forcing lenders to have more cash relative to their mortgage books.

Its shares were in a trading halt but the other of the so-called "Big Four" banks fell sharply as investors anticipated they will be required to do similar.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX fell 2.3 percent and Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX dropped 2.6 percent while National Australia Bank NAB.AX , which already conducted a capital raising, gave up 1.9 percent.

"When ANZ reopens, they'll see pretty harsh selling because they're selling at a discount to the market," said Tristan K'Nell, heading of trading at Quay Equities.

"NAB have already acted, but realistically CBA and Westpac are going to have to do something similar," K'Nell added.

The decline came despite an uptick in Australian employment as investors noted that many of the new jobs were part time and unemployment rose too.

Miners fared better after the iron ore price rose, with BHP Billiton (LONDON:BLT) BHP.AX and rival Rio Tinto (LONDON:RIO) RIO.AX up 0.8 percent, while smaller iron ore producer Fortescue Metals Group FMG.AX added 2 percent. Rio Tinto reports interim results later on Thursday.

Energy producers were weaker after declines in the oil price. Woodside Petroleum WPL.AX dipped 1 percent while Origin Energy ORG.AX and Santos STO.AX both fell about 2 percent.

Payment service provider Ozforex Group jumped 11 percent after Deutsche Bank (XETRA:DBKGn) revised up its earnings forecasts and raised its price target for the company.

New Zealand's NZX50 share index .NZ50 was 0.3 percent higher at 5,955.41 and a whisker away from Monday's lifetime high.

Contact Energy CEN.NZ gained 2.4 percent to a six-week high as it found its feet after its major shareholder sold out earlier this week.

Energy stocks were also lifted by news that Genesis Energy GNE.NZ will end coal-fired generation in 2018, reducing over-capacity in the market.

Genesis gained 1.2 percent and Meridian Energy MEL.NZ was up 1.8 percent.

Outdoor clothing retailer Kathmandu KMD.NZ rose 1.8 percent as it rejected a takeover offer from home goods retailer Briscoe BGR.NZ as too low. Briscoe rose 1.4 percent.

(Editing by Kim Coghill)

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.