ASX 200 ends at new 11-week high; Santos lifts on Woodside talks; ANZ's $900,000 penalty
Investors pile into Santos amid $80bn merger talks; Woodside dips. ANZ's $900,000 penalty for disclosure failure. Sigma suspends trading amid Chemist Warehouse talks. Chalmers-RBA deal may bring rate hikes.
Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Friday, December 8. The ASX 200 index rebounds from earlier falls to close up 0.3 per cent at 7194.90, its highest level in more than 11 weeks. Wall Street rallied overnight.
The Aussie dollar is trading near US66.15c.
More Coverage
ASX sets record close despite pullback; HMC confirms Healthscope talks
David Di Pilla-led HMC eyes Brookfield-owned hospitals operator. Cochlear falls on trimmed guidance. Dividend disappointment weighs on AMP. GFG Alliance puts NSW coal mine on the block in debt plan. Mirvac soars on return to profit.
ASX steady as miners gain; CBA rises, IAG down
Sigma gains as $300m worth of shares change hands. Alliance Aviation's labour costs growing after first industrial action in two decades. IAG top loser as investors miss buyback. Temple & Webster top gainer. 'Cleaner result' sees ASX Ltd soar.