Following positive leads from Wall Street, the Australian share market opened in the black and is currently tracking 0.32 per cent higher at noon. After oil prices slid to their lowest levels in more than a decade yesterday, we saw some relief for energy stocks in the US overnight with the price of Brent crude moving slightly higher. Taking a look at the local share market, the healthcare and energy sectors are leading the charge, but the big miners BHP and Rio Tinto, as well as Telstra are continuing to weigh on the index.
The S&P/ASX 200 index is 15 points higher at 5,124. On the futures market the SPI is up 11 points.
Company news
The GPT Group
(ASX:GPT) has announced an estimated distribution for the six months to 31 December 2015 of 11.5 cents per ordinary stapled security. The company will release its 2015 annual result on the 18th of February. Shares in The GPT Group are trading up 0.63 per cent at $4.79.
Strike Energy Limited
(ASX:STX) has provided an update on operations at its Southern Cooper Basin Gas project. The company says excellent progress towards commercial gas flows has been made by the Klebb pilot with particularly pleasing results achieved at the Klebb 2 and 3 wells. Shares in Strike Energy are trading up 4.35 per cent at $0.12.
Best and worst performers
The best performing sector is Healthcare, gaining 1.2 per cent to 19,593. Shares in Ansell have risen 3.16 per cent and trading at $20.89.
Shares in Primary Health and Sirtex are also stronger.
The worst performing sector is Telcos, falling 0.1 per cent to 1,967. Shares in Vocus have fallen 1.22 per cent, trading at $7.31. Shares in Telstra are lower and TPG Telecom are higher.
IPOs Micro-X Limited
(ASX:MX1) has started trading today. The x-ray product company floated with an issue price of $0.50, opened at $0.53 and are currently trading at $0.55.
Gold and the dollar
Gold is trading at $US1,078 an ounce.
The Australian dollar is buying $US0.7202
