Get 40% Off
🚀 AI-picked stocks soar in May. PRFT is +55%—in just 16 days! Don’t miss June’s top picks.Unlock full list

Australia shares slump as futures changeover dims new leader's glow

Published 15/09/2015, 01:08 pm
© Reuters.  Australia shares slump as futures changeover dims new leader's glow
AXJO
-
BHP
-
CBA
-
ANZ
-
RIO
-
BHPB
-
OSH
-
NAB
-
RIO
-
WBC
-
SWM
-
S32
-

* Installation of ex-Goldman prime minister gets muted responses

* Base metals prices drag resources lower

* Futures changeover pulls investors away from equities (Adds analysis, quotes, stocks on the move)

SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Australian shares tumbled on Tuesday as the emergence of Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister elect failed to inspire investors, and falling commodity prices sent resources lower.

The changeover of futures contracts set to expire on Sept. 15 YAPCM1 also generated heavy trading in those derivatives, draining volume from the equities market and exaggerating the fall, a trader said.

Overnight, the ruling Liberal Party voted to oust Tony Abbott as prime minister in favour of Turnbull, a pro-business multi-millionaire former tech entrepreneur who is hugely popular with the electorate. ID:nL4N11K5FO

Despite Turnbull's immediate promise to restore business confidence, the S&P/ASX 200 index .AXJO followed overseas markets by falling 1.0 percent or 52.4 points to 5044.1 by 0226 GMT. The benchmark is down 11 percent since the start of August.

"The business and investment community should see the transition to Mr Turnbull's leadership as a positive, but it's pretty clear investor focus is elsewhere," said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd.

"We've got the expiration of the futures contract this week and that means the fund managers are largely distracted by the rollover."

Banks led the decline, with Westpac Banking Corp WBC.AX and National Australia Bank NAB.AX each down nearly 2 percent, while Australia and New Zealand Banking Group ANZ.AX dropped 1.5 percent and Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX lost 0.7 percent.

Miners also lost ground after the prices of several key metals dropped overnight. BHP Billiton (LONDON:BLT) BHP.AX was down 0.8 percent and rival Rio Tinto (LONDON:RIO) RIO.AX eased 1.5 percent. BHP spin-off South32 S32.AX slumped nearly 6 percent.

Energy stocks followed the oil price lower, with takeover target Oil Search OSH.AX off by 2.8 percent and Woodside, whose takeover proposal Oil Search was knocked back a day earlier, eased 0.4 percent.

Free-to-air television broadcaster Seven West Media SWM.AX rose 8 percent after announcing a share buyback, the biggest gainer on the benchmark index.

New Zealand's benchmark NZX50 share index .NZX50 edged up 8.0 points or 0.1 percent to 5,673.85, supported by demand for utilities, while gains were tempered by selling in healthcare shares.

Mighty River Power MRP.NZ rose 2.1 percent, while telecommunications retailer Spark SPK.NZ rose 0.5 percent, recovering from the previous day's slide.

Kathmandu KMD.NZ climbed 2.7 percent amid speculation homewares and sport equipment retailer Briscoe Group BGR.NZ may increase its offer for the struggling outdoorwear maker.

Fisher and Paykel Healthcare FPH.NZ fell 0.7 percent, while Ryman Healthcare slipped 0.4 percent.

For more individual stocks activity click on STXBZ

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.