Australia Market mixed; Banks fall, miners gain

Headline indices of the Australia stock market were mixed on Wednesday, 01 August 2018, despite gains for US equities overnight, as losses by losses in banks and financials offset gains in miners on the back of gains in commodity prices. Around late afternoon, the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index fell 0.90 points, or 0.01%, to 6,279.30. The broader All Ordinaries Index added 1.24 points, or 0.02%, to 6,367.40.

Shares of banks and financial companies were biggest drag on the index's, with 'Big Four' ANZ Banking, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac - were down in a range of 1% to 1.5%.

Shares of materials sector were the biggest lift to the benchmark, with BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto being the single biggest contributor, buoyed by a rally in commodity prices,

Among earnings related stocks, real estate investment trust BWP shares were down after reporting full year results. The investor and manager of commercial properties throughout Australia said that total income for the full-year to 30 June 2018 was A$153.4 million, up by 0.6% from last year. The increase in income was mainly due to rental growth from the existing property portfolio.Net profit for the period was $183.1 million, including $69.9 million in gains in the fair value of investment properties. This compares with net profit last year of A$223.8 million - which included gains of A$111.3 million in the fair value of investment properties. BWP declared a final distribution of 9.03 cents per ordinary unit and will be made on 24 August 2018 to unit holders.

ALS shares gained after the company expects first-half underlying profit to increase by up to 25% to the range of A$85 million to A$90 million, up from $71.9 million a year earlier, thanks to strong demand for its analysis and testing services.

CURRENCY NEWS: The Australian dollar was up against greenback and other major currencies, helped by an improvement in investor risk appetite after jump in commodity prices.

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