Australian sharemarket ends stronger but fails to pierce 6200 point mark

Healthcare sector giant CSL played a big role in lifting the Australian share market after booking higher full year profits and flagging a potential vaccine for coronavirus in mid-2021.

The Australian share market has been driven higher by the healthcare sector for the second straight day but failed to reach the 6200 point mark.

“That’s a level the market has made three attempts to crack through in the past two or so months and has failed to do so,” CommSec market analyst Steve Daghlian said.

The S&P/ASX200 closed 0.72 per cent stronger at 6167.6 while the All Ordinaries Index rose 0.72 per cent to 6314.1

Mr Daghlian said healthcare sector giant CSL made the biggest impact on the market after booking higher full year revenues and profits.

CSL also said its partnership with University of Queensland could deliver a potential “emergency” vaccine for coronavirus in mid-2021.

The company’s shares lifted 6.39 per cent to $312.05.

Logistics software company Wisetech rallied 33.93 per cent to $27.87 after reporting a 23 per cent increase in revenue due to the demand for digitalisation during the pandemic.

Domino’s surged after reporting a record financial result, saying the health crisis had boosted its online ordering and delivery services, with global pizza sales reaching more than $3 billion for the first time.

Shares in the fast food giant finished 8.89 per cent higher at $83.70.

Pizza giant Domino’s has capitalised on the surge in online orders during the pandemic. Picture: Adam Head

ANZ was the best performer of the big four banks after declaring an interim dividend of 25 cents per share - the day after Westpac announced it would not provide a first half dividend, saying the economic outlook remained too uncertain due to COVID-19.

ANZ closed 3.38 per cent higher at $18.68, National Australia Bank gained 1.59 per cent to $17.89, Westpac appreciated 1.28 per cent to $17.40 and Commonwealth Bank lifted 0.79 per cent to $71.04.

A2 Milk failed to impress with its full year results, sliding 6.36 per cent to $18.25.

Treasury Wine Estates was lower for the second consecutive day after China launched an investigation into alleged “dumping” of low-priced Australian wine into their market, falling 8.5 per cent to $9.68.

Oz Minerals rose 3.9 per cent to $14.65 after posting an 82 per cent surge in net profit for the six months to June 30, driven by higher gold production volumes and a strong price for the precious metal.

Rio Tinto slipped 0.31 per cent to $101.67 while fellow mining giant BHP dropped 1.49 per cent to $39.06.

The Aussie dollar was fetching 72.52 US cents, 54.69 British pence and 60.71 Euro cents in afternoon trade.