ASX 200 up 0.3pc; best close in 10 weeks; Challenger, Brambles, BHP gain

ASX ends 0.3 per cent higher, recording its best close in 10 weeks. Investors pile into Challenger, BHP, Wesfarmers, Brambles and Super Retail with a flurry of earnings results. CSL lost ground after profit fell.

Investors respond to another lot of major earnings. Picture: Gaye Gerard

Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Wednesday, August 17. The Australian sharemarket closed 0.3 per cent higher, thanks to gains in Challenger, BHP, Super Retail and Wesfarmers.

The S&P/ASX 200 index closed up 0.3 per cent to 7127.70 following a flood of earnings results.

Challenger was the top riser on the ASX 200, closing 5.6 per cent higher. 

Wall Street ended mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 up 0.7 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively, but technology-focused Nasdaq Composite Index closed 0.2 per cent lower.

Oil prices fell with the Brent crude price down 2.9 per cent to $US92.34 per barrel, its lowest level since February, and the US Nymex crude lost 3 per cent to $US86.53 per barrel, a fresh low point since January.

Iron ore futures fell 0.1 per cent to $US106.63 per tonne.

The Aussie dollar was near US70.15c at the 12pm AEST.