ASX reaches new highs on busiest company reporting day
By midday on Thursday AEST, the S&P/ASX200 was up 73.9 points, or 0.83 per cent, to 8991.9, while the broader All Ordinaries also rose 79 points, or 0.86 per cent, to 9256.4.
The local bourse reached the record at noon as more than two dozen companies are set to open their books.
By lunchtime, 10 of 11 sectors on the ASX were trading in the green, led by industrials which rose 2.4 per cent, while telecommunications lagged.
The industrials sector was powered by supply chain logistics company Brambles, which had a share price jump of 9.8 per cent on news of profits exceeding estimates, and confidence in transport logistics company Transurban.
The materials sector was up 0.3 per cent as mining giants BHP and Rio Tinto traded flat despite getting the backing of US President Donald Trump for their planned joint development of an American copper project.
In the consumer discretionary sector - up one per cent - Supercheap Auto and Rebel Sport owner Super Retail announced record sales, leading to its share price jumping 12.8 per cent.
Energy stocks were up 0.7 per cent despite Whitehaven Coal announcing its annual profits had been slashed by more than half due to weak coal prices and higher costs, but its own share price edged higher after an initial dip.
The financial sector was up 0.8 per cent with all four big banks in the green, led by ANZ.
The Australian dollar is buying 64.31 US cents, down from 64.46 US cents on Wednesday at 5pm.
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