ASX 200 up 0.6% at lunch. BHP hits record $68.22 intraday. Coles reports $1.1bn annual profit. Aurizon announces $250m buyback. Bitcoin above $80,000.
Good afternoon and welcome to the ASX Today. It's Tuesday of Week 25, a big day for earnings season. The ASX is firmly higher at lunchtime, with every sector in positive territory as investors digest a fresh new batch of corporate results and take a few cues from the RBA's August policy minutes.
The central bank kept the cash rate at 4.35 per cent at the August meeting, with members noting inflation had eased from its March peak.
The ASX 200 is up 0.6 per cent today. The market is getting support from a new record high for mining heavyweight BHP. It touched $68.22 intraday and is up 1 per cent overall. Rio Tinto and South32 are also gaining as copper optimism supports the miners. In the energy space, Woodside is up 2.4 per cent after reporting a 7 per cent lift in first-half net profit before one-off items, helped by higher commodity prices.
Healthcare is leading the market today. Ansell is up 7 per cent after yesterday's sharp rally, following a stronger than expected earnings outlook for the year ahead. CSL is adding another 2.5 per cent, taking its gains this month to almost 50 per cent.
The banks are higher, led by insurers. Suncorp has climbed 6.1 per cent and Insurance Australia Group is up 5.2 per cent.
Coles is under the spotlight following its full-year result, reporting a $1.1 billion annual profit. Food sales momentum improved toward the end of the financial year. Its Liquorland division delivered a weaker performance.
Aurizon has announced a $250 million share buyback. The rail operator cited its financial performance, cash generation and balance sheet as supporting the capital return.
In tech, WiseTech Global has appointed former Oracle and SAP executive Tim Ebbeck as an independent non-executive director. Results are due tomorrow.
Looking beyond the ASX, Bitcoin has pushed back above US$80,000, reaching its highest level since May. Renewed optimism around the cryptocurrency market is coinciding with a weaker US dollar.
Join the discussion: See what's trending right now on HotCopper, Australia's largest stock forum, and be part of the conversations that move the markets.
The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. For full disclaimer information, please click here .
Drafted by a large language model from the source reporting linked above, then screened by automated publishing checks. It is not read by a journalist before publication. Some articles cite our Alpha Score. Verify prices and figures against the original source. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.