Live: ASX 200 ends flat; Investors back Xero job cuts, Myer soars on div windfall
NAB, Westpac, ANZ reveal rate hikes. Myer shares rocket after dividend boost. Xero jumps on move to cut up to 800 jobs. Piedmont halts, will respond to short-seller claims.
Welcome to the Trading Day blog for Thursday, March 9. ASX 200 is up. Myer rockets after dividend boost. Xero jumps on move to cut up to 800 jobs. Piedmont halts, will respond to short-seller claims. Activist Snowcap takes aim at Santos.
The ASX 200 index advances 0.3 per cent to 7328.5 amid ex-dividend falls. Trading stayed within a right range of 7289.9-7317.1 after a flat night on Wall Street before key US jobs data later this week.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 closed 0.1 per cent higher, with the technology-focused Nasdaq Composite Index also 0.4 per cent stronger, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average index shed 0.2 per cent.
Investors will be watching for China’s inflation update, due later on Thursday.
Oil prices fell with the global benchmark Brent crude off 0.9 per cent to $US82.47 per barrel and the US Nymex also 1.4 per cent weaker at $US76.50 per barrel.
Iron ore is 0.2 per cent weaker at $US126.75 per tonne.
The Aussie dollar is around US65.90c.
ASX 200 down as NAB, Santos, MinRes hit
SA govt puts Whyalla Steelworks into administration. NAB shares slumps as margin strain dents earnings. MinRes tanks on massive loss. Santos results disappoint. WA rich lister sells $8.5bn Rio stake. MinRes' big loss triggers double-digit dive. Profitable Goodman taps investors for $4bn.
RBA delivers ‘hawkish’ rate cut; ASX down
Reserve Bank cuts rates 25 basis points, takes official cash rate to 4.1 per cent. First cut in more than four years. NAB, Westpac, CBA and ANZ lower home loan rates. Qatar-Virgin deal gets ACCC nod. Gold to outshine $US3000: UBS, Goldman.