ASX slides lower but miners shine; QBE slumps
The S&P/ASX200 was down 7.7 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 8823.6 just after midday, with seven of 11 industry sectors in the red, with tech and health care stocks the biggest weights on the index.
Financial stocks are mixed. ANZ gained 0.3 per cent while Westpac lost 0.5 per cent, NAB gave up 0.4 per cent and Commonwealth Bank shed 0.3 per cent.
QBE shares slipped 6.7 per cent after the insurance giant reported a jump in net profit after tax to $US1.02 billion ($1.84 billion) in its first half, up from $802 million a year earlier.
Although the profit result was higher than market expectations, Barrenjoey analyst Andrew Adams said this was helped by foreign exchange movements, and some of the details within the result were 'more debateable' and could lead to volatility in the share price. Financial services company Block jumped 7.4 per cent on strong profit growth as it announced its results.
Mining stocks are higher, with iron ore heavyweights Fortescue (up 0.8 per cent), BHP (up 0.8 per cent) and Rio Tinto (up 0.1 per cent) advancing. Gold miners continued their winning run, with Newmont climbing 2 per cent, Northern Star bouncing 3.7 per cent and Evolution Mining rising 0.9 per cent.
Furniture seller Nick Scali's share price has risen 7.6 per cent after unveiling a 5.8 per cent lift in group revenue to $495.3 million. However, net profit fell by 28.3 per cent to $57.7 million.
MLC Asset Management senior portfolio manager Anthony Golowenko said there was 'solid momentum' in the Australia and New Zealand businesses, underpinned by a 7.3 per. cent uplift in written sales in the second half, while Fab Furniture, the business acquired in the UK, has been undergoing rebranding to Nick Scali.
'This profitable growth story 'keeps on keeping on' in ANZ, with strong progress and still some work to do in the UK,' Golowenko said.
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The Age
28 minutes ago
- The Age
AI tells lies, but kindly apologises if found out
Go bold, Albanese Unfortunately for us Labor faithful, Prime Minister Albanese lacks the courage and boldness to lead a government of true reform. He once again ruled out tax reform (″ Albanese Shies Away from Major Tax Reform ″, 8/8). He's the manager doing things right, rather than the leader who chooses to do the right thing. Significant tax reform might put a few noses out of joint, but with a large majority and political momentum now is the time for some boldness. Governments are elected to lead and make life better, but right now this seems as if it is far from the minds of Australian Labor. Albanese might reflect on the courage of the previous Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, as an example of bold political leadership. Like him or not, Andrews was often courageous and doing the right thing defined his leadership. No one can deny the strength of his government which chose many real tangible actions to improve life for Victorians. They were certainly rewarded at the ballot box. Michael Cormick, Carnegie Defence is everything Italy has showed us the way. Everyone in the world can give Donald Trump a ″win″ on increased defence spending and none of that expenditure will be wasted on actual weapons. Yes, a suspension bridge is defence spending! (″ Italy will build bridge to Sicily ″, 8/8). So how does this work for Australia? Simple. All our expenditure on modernising our electrical grid is strategic – we are protecting ourselves against interdiction of fuel imports. All road and rain infrastructure is defence spending – we need to ensure that our forces can quickly and efficiently get to where they need to be. So is health – we need to have a strong fighting force. And of course, all education spending is defence spending. We need fully rounded people in our defence forces. Foreign aid and foreign embassies are defence spending – soft power is the most effective way to maintain peace. In no time, Australia will be spending 10 per cent of GDP on defence. We should then be able to ask Trump for a 1000 per cent decrease in tariffs. Ken Richards, Elwood What fits the crime After reading the article by Jeremy Pudney about the role James Vlassakis played in the Snowtown murders, I was moved with compassion about a young man manipulated by John Bunting and Robert Wagner (″ Why it's right to release the youngest Snowtown killer ″, 8/8). Vlassakis is depicted as a troubled teenager who fell under an evil spell. However, I feel for the victims' families who must live with the trauma of losing a loved one to murder. It is an impossible task to meet the needs of both parties, revenge on one hand and forgiveness on the other. The old adage is that the punishment must fit the crime. Life is short and eleven lives were lost, and Vlassakis has lost 26 years of his life. Yes, some will be outraged, but this decision certainly seeks understanding. Julie Ottobre, Brunswick East Call time on pub test Re Letters 8/8. 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I tried to contact the nurse who helped me on the train to thank her, but I couldn't as I only knew her first name, Isabel. There is a lot in the press about the inadequacies of our health system, but we should be so proud of our frontline health workers, doctors, nurses and paramedics and so grateful for their care. Catherine Needham, Parkdale AFL comedy channel I'm a bit disappointed at Channel 7's lack of imagination in dumping the broadcast of the upcoming Blues v Bombers game for August 21. It could have billed it as a comedy in the tradition of 1960s British Carry On films, featuring slapstick fumbling, dropped marks, missed goals and kicks and Keystone Cops-like packs chasing the ball. What a missed opportunity. Pier Paolo De Carlo, Ascot Vale Docklands mystery It's still a mystery after years of huge investments and planning that at lunchtime I see an empty Docklands. 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Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
ASX dips ahead of expected RBA rate cut
A mixed bag has capped the share market's first weekly gain in three weeks, in the midst of reporting season with an expected interest rate cut just days away. The S&P/ASX200 closed Friday with a loss of 24.3 points or 0.28 per cent at 8807.1. Sell offs in financials and healthcare outweighed gains in mining stocks, with six of 11 sectors in negative territory. The All Ordinaries also slipped 0.28 per cent, down 25 points to 9,076.6 while the Small Ords was flat. Daily returns were dominated by earnings results. QBE shares tanked 8.8 per cent (to $21.39) despite the company reporting a 20 per cent jump in half-year profit. Afterpay owner Block rose 9.1 per cent (at $127.09) as second quarter results showed consumers were blowing cobwebs off their wallets. Gains in mining did not offset losses in financials. Gaye Gerard / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Furniture retailer Nick Scali lifted 6.9 per cent (to $20.49) as its Australian and New Zealand orders over the second-half rose 7 per cent. Investors made themselves comfy despite a near 30 per cent slide in profits. 'We're getting better deals … and we are passing that through to the consumer for better prices and that is probably helping us,' chief executive Anthony Scali told investors. 'I think the consumer is a bit more confident.' Other big gainers include finance tech company Iress (up 12.2 per cent at $9.40), Pilbara Minerals (up 9 per cent at $1.93) and AMP (up 7.1 per cent at $1.87). At the other end, GQG Partners was deep in red territory. GQG's share price fell 14.6 per cent (to $1.72), as a funds under management update revealed an exodus. RBA Governor Michele Bullock is expected to announce a rate cut on Tuesday. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Investors ditched game company Light and Wonder, as the Las Vegas-headquartered firm announced plans to delist from the Nasdaq later this year. Aussie-listed stocks fell 11.2 per cent to $118.75. The RBA is expected to cut the cash rate on Tuesday, and will take heed from London in doing so. The Bank of England cut its main interest rate Thursday by a quarter point to 4 per cent, to spite a lagging economy. In international news, the UK, Switzerland and the US have found themselves in a tussle after a report Donald Trump had imposed tariffs on imports of 1kg gold bars. Independent market analyst Stephen Innes said the US administration was taking a three-pronged approach. 'Weaken Switzerland's refining monopoly. Force London's bullion banks into a defensive posture. Supercharge the fiscal optics by goosing gold's domestic valuation,' he said. 'The optics are unmistakeable. At a time when central banks are hoarding gold to diversify away from dollar risk, Washington is slapping toll booths on the global metal highway. 'Switzerland, the middleman in this high-value supply chain, just became collateral damage.' The news sent gold futures climbing to a record high on Friday, even after a stellar week for the precious metal. The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold benchmark is up 11.5 per cent for the week, including a 2 per cent sweetener on Friday.


The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Bloomfield's buying spree continues, as it buys land and mining tenure from Yancoal
Hunter-based Australian coal mining company, the Bloomfield Group's buying spree continues with the announcement that they have signed an agreement to acquire land and an associated mining tenure from Yancoal. This latest purchase follows their acquisition of the home of the late Wendy Bowman, 'Rosedale' at Camberwell, in February this year for $9 million and their purchase in July of the now closed Integra underground mine near Singleton from Glencore. A number of dwellings in the village Camberwell, near Singleton as well as land and an associated mining tenure for the previously proposed Ashton South East Open Cut project (for which the approval has lapsed), are included in the agreement. Comment has been sought from the Bloomfield Group on the latest purchases, in particular the mining tenure that covers 'Rosesdale', where Yancoal had planned to establish an open-cut mine adjacent to Glennies Creek. It was the Ashton South East Coal Project that brought Mrs Bowman to national and international prominence as an environmental campaigner. She campaigned for decades against the mining of agricultural land in the Hunter Valley establishing Mine Watch in 1991. But it was her decision to fight to protect 'Rosedale' and the nearby Glennies Creek from the proposed Ashton East Open Cut Coal Mine that brought her to national and international prominence as an environmental campaigner. She was involved in a landmark court decision in 2014 against Yancoal's Ashton South East open-cut mine proposal. The decision required the mine to buy her property, Rosedale, to proceed. She refused to sell her property to Yancoal, and which stalled the mine, and its mining licence would eventually lapse in April 2022. Mrs Bowman died in August 2023. Her close friend and fierce supporter and neighbour Deidre Olofsson described the latest news regarding Camberwell and the 'Rosedale' property as devastating. "It marks the end of the village and the harm it will do to Glennies Creek, a major tributary to the Hunter River and the source of water for the vineyards and irrigators below Singleton will be massive," she said. "It is just heartbreaking to see the proposal Wendy and all of us fought so hard to stop may be back again." In a statement to the community, Bloomfield Group said the acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing to deliver stability for our existing operations, while at the same time providing business options and growth opportunities for the future. Securing land adjacent to our existing Rix's Creek Mine operations gives us the flexibility to better plan for future infrastructure, such as the proposed highway relocation to support our Rix's Creek North Continuation Project, they said. The agreement with Yancoal also includes the area of the Donaldson open-cut and Abel underground mines, located east of Maitland and adjacent to The Bloomfield Group's Bloomfield Colliery. Under the agreement, The Bloomfield Group assumes responsibility for the rehabilitation of both the Donaldson and Abel mine sites. The acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing to deliver stability for our existing operations, while at the same time providing business options and growth opportunities for the future. We are also actively exploring future land uses and the necessary approval pathways across all of our Lower Hunter land holdings, including at our Bloomfield Colliery site, where opportunities for industrial precincts and housing aligned with regional planning strategies have been identified, they said. Acquisition of the land includes the current relevant mining tenure associated with each site, such as permits, leases, and licences. Completion of the acquisition is subject to the usual regulatory approvals required for a transaction of this kind. Comment has been sought from Yancoal on the sale of their assets to the Blooomfield Group. Hunter-based Australian coal mining company, the Bloomfield Group's buying spree continues with the announcement that they have signed an agreement to acquire land and an associated mining tenure from Yancoal. This latest purchase follows their acquisition of the home of the late Wendy Bowman, 'Rosedale' at Camberwell, in February this year for $9 million and their purchase in July of the now closed Integra underground mine near Singleton from Glencore. A number of dwellings in the village Camberwell, near Singleton as well as land and an associated mining tenure for the previously proposed Ashton South East Open Cut project (for which the approval has lapsed), are included in the agreement. Comment has been sought from the Bloomfield Group on the latest purchases, in particular the mining tenure that covers 'Rosesdale', where Yancoal had planned to establish an open-cut mine adjacent to Glennies Creek. It was the Ashton South East Coal Project that brought Mrs Bowman to national and international prominence as an environmental campaigner. She campaigned for decades against the mining of agricultural land in the Hunter Valley establishing Mine Watch in 1991. But it was her decision to fight to protect 'Rosedale' and the nearby Glennies Creek from the proposed Ashton East Open Cut Coal Mine that brought her to national and international prominence as an environmental campaigner. She was involved in a landmark court decision in 2014 against Yancoal's Ashton South East open-cut mine proposal. The decision required the mine to buy her property, Rosedale, to proceed. She refused to sell her property to Yancoal, and which stalled the mine, and its mining licence would eventually lapse in April 2022. Mrs Bowman died in August 2023. Her close friend and fierce supporter and neighbour Deidre Olofsson described the latest news regarding Camberwell and the 'Rosedale' property as devastating. "It marks the end of the village and the harm it will do to Glennies Creek, a major tributary to the Hunter River and the source of water for the vineyards and irrigators below Singleton will be massive," she said. "It is just heartbreaking to see the proposal Wendy and all of us fought so hard to stop may be back again." In a statement to the community, Bloomfield Group said the acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing to deliver stability for our existing operations, while at the same time providing business options and growth opportunities for the future. Securing land adjacent to our existing Rix's Creek Mine operations gives us the flexibility to better plan for future infrastructure, such as the proposed highway relocation to support our Rix's Creek North Continuation Project, they said. The agreement with Yancoal also includes the area of the Donaldson open-cut and Abel underground mines, located east of Maitland and adjacent to The Bloomfield Group's Bloomfield Colliery. Under the agreement, The Bloomfield Group assumes responsibility for the rehabilitation of both the Donaldson and Abel mine sites. The acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing to deliver stability for our existing operations, while at the same time providing business options and growth opportunities for the future. We are also actively exploring future land uses and the necessary approval pathways across all of our Lower Hunter land holdings, including at our Bloomfield Colliery site, where opportunities for industrial precincts and housing aligned with regional planning strategies have been identified, they said. Acquisition of the land includes the current relevant mining tenure associated with each site, such as permits, leases, and licences. Completion of the acquisition is subject to the usual regulatory approvals required for a transaction of this kind. Comment has been sought from Yancoal on the sale of their assets to the Blooomfield Group. Hunter-based Australian coal mining company, the Bloomfield Group's buying spree continues with the announcement that they have signed an agreement to acquire land and an associated mining tenure from Yancoal. This latest purchase follows their acquisition of the home of the late Wendy Bowman, 'Rosedale' at Camberwell, in February this year for $9 million and their purchase in July of the now closed Integra underground mine near Singleton from Glencore. A number of dwellings in the village Camberwell, near Singleton as well as land and an associated mining tenure for the previously proposed Ashton South East Open Cut project (for which the approval has lapsed), are included in the agreement. Comment has been sought from the Bloomfield Group on the latest purchases, in particular the mining tenure that covers 'Rosesdale', where Yancoal had planned to establish an open-cut mine adjacent to Glennies Creek. It was the Ashton South East Coal Project that brought Mrs Bowman to national and international prominence as an environmental campaigner. She campaigned for decades against the mining of agricultural land in the Hunter Valley establishing Mine Watch in 1991. But it was her decision to fight to protect 'Rosedale' and the nearby Glennies Creek from the proposed Ashton East Open Cut Coal Mine that brought her to national and international prominence as an environmental campaigner. She was involved in a landmark court decision in 2014 against Yancoal's Ashton South East open-cut mine proposal. The decision required the mine to buy her property, Rosedale, to proceed. She refused to sell her property to Yancoal, and which stalled the mine, and its mining licence would eventually lapse in April 2022. Mrs Bowman died in August 2023. Her close friend and fierce supporter and neighbour Deidre Olofsson described the latest news regarding Camberwell and the 'Rosedale' property as devastating. "It marks the end of the village and the harm it will do to Glennies Creek, a major tributary to the Hunter River and the source of water for the vineyards and irrigators below Singleton will be massive," she said. "It is just heartbreaking to see the proposal Wendy and all of us fought so hard to stop may be back again." In a statement to the community, Bloomfield Group said the acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing to deliver stability for our existing operations, while at the same time providing business options and growth opportunities for the future. Securing land adjacent to our existing Rix's Creek Mine operations gives us the flexibility to better plan for future infrastructure, such as the proposed highway relocation to support our Rix's Creek North Continuation Project, they said. The agreement with Yancoal also includes the area of the Donaldson open-cut and Abel underground mines, located east of Maitland and adjacent to The Bloomfield Group's Bloomfield Colliery. Under the agreement, The Bloomfield Group assumes responsibility for the rehabilitation of both the Donaldson and Abel mine sites. The acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing to deliver stability for our existing operations, while at the same time providing business options and growth opportunities for the future. We are also actively exploring future land uses and the necessary approval pathways across all of our Lower Hunter land holdings, including at our Bloomfield Colliery site, where opportunities for industrial precincts and housing aligned with regional planning strategies have been identified, they said. Acquisition of the land includes the current relevant mining tenure associated with each site, such as permits, leases, and licences. Completion of the acquisition is subject to the usual regulatory approvals required for a transaction of this kind. Comment has been sought from Yancoal on the sale of their assets to the Blooomfield Group. Hunter-based Australian coal mining company, the Bloomfield Group's buying spree continues with the announcement that they have signed an agreement to acquire land and an associated mining tenure from Yancoal. This latest purchase follows their acquisition of the home of the late Wendy Bowman, 'Rosedale' at Camberwell, in February this year for $9 million and their purchase in July of the now closed Integra underground mine near Singleton from Glencore. A number of dwellings in the village Camberwell, near Singleton as well as land and an associated mining tenure for the previously proposed Ashton South East Open Cut project (for which the approval has lapsed), are included in the agreement. Comment has been sought from the Bloomfield Group on the latest purchases, in particular the mining tenure that covers 'Rosesdale', where Yancoal had planned to establish an open-cut mine adjacent to Glennies Creek. It was the Ashton South East Coal Project that brought Mrs Bowman to national and international prominence as an environmental campaigner. She campaigned for decades against the mining of agricultural land in the Hunter Valley establishing Mine Watch in 1991. But it was her decision to fight to protect 'Rosedale' and the nearby Glennies Creek from the proposed Ashton East Open Cut Coal Mine that brought her to national and international prominence as an environmental campaigner. She was involved in a landmark court decision in 2014 against Yancoal's Ashton South East open-cut mine proposal. The decision required the mine to buy her property, Rosedale, to proceed. She refused to sell her property to Yancoal, and which stalled the mine, and its mining licence would eventually lapse in April 2022. Mrs Bowman died in August 2023. Her close friend and fierce supporter and neighbour Deidre Olofsson described the latest news regarding Camberwell and the 'Rosedale' property as devastating. "It marks the end of the village and the harm it will do to Glennies Creek, a major tributary to the Hunter River and the source of water for the vineyards and irrigators below Singleton will be massive," she said. "It is just heartbreaking to see the proposal Wendy and all of us fought so hard to stop may be back again." In a statement to the community, Bloomfield Group said the acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing to deliver stability for our existing operations, while at the same time providing business options and growth opportunities for the future. Securing land adjacent to our existing Rix's Creek Mine operations gives us the flexibility to better plan for future infrastructure, such as the proposed highway relocation to support our Rix's Creek North Continuation Project, they said. The agreement with Yancoal also includes the area of the Donaldson open-cut and Abel underground mines, located east of Maitland and adjacent to The Bloomfield Group's Bloomfield Colliery. Under the agreement, The Bloomfield Group assumes responsibility for the rehabilitation of both the Donaldson and Abel mine sites. The acquisition aligns with our strategy of investing to deliver stability for our existing operations, while at the same time providing business options and growth opportunities for the future. We are also actively exploring future land uses and the necessary approval pathways across all of our Lower Hunter land holdings, including at our Bloomfield Colliery site, where opportunities for industrial precincts and housing aligned with regional planning strategies have been identified, they said. Acquisition of the land includes the current relevant mining tenure associated with each site, such as permits, leases, and licences. Completion of the acquisition is subject to the usual regulatory approvals required for a transaction of this kind. Comment has been sought from Yancoal on the sale of their assets to the Blooomfield Group.