The S&P / ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) has risen 0.3% to close at 4,424.2, likely on optimism that Eurozone finance ministers will agree on a bailout package for Greece this week. Positive results from US markets on Friday also contributed to the rise.
The Australian dollar keeps rising against the US dollar, currently buying 104.5 cents.
These three stocks added more than 5%.
ALS Limited (ASX: ALQ) added 5.8% to end at $9.19. The business formerly known as Campbell Brothers, which derives most of its profits from analysing mineral samples, saw its shares fall 70 cents on Friday, after the company announced that it was seeing a decline in geochemical sample flow, due to subdued sentiment in the exploration sector. Analysts today have suggested investors are looking too far out into the future, and said the market had overreacted, leading to the share price regaining much of the falls. Still, future earnings uncertainty in a sector that is seeing falling commodity prices and cancelled projects may be too high a risk for some investors.
Maintenance and services company, Transfield Services Limited (ASX: TSE) rose 5.4% to close at $1.66. The company has seen its share price fall from over $2 since the start of this year, but has been winning some notable contracts of late. Two weeks ago, Transfield won a $200 million contract to provide maintenance services to Queensland Gas Corporation's coal seam gas assets in QLD. That follows another $145 million in various contracts at the start of November, and may have contributed to the stock rising today.
Panaust Limited (ASX: PNA) added 17 cents, or 5.3% to end at $3.36. The copper and gold miner has seen its share price rally 48% since July, after the company declared its maiden interim dividend and confirmed that it was on target to produce 64,000 tonnes of copper, 135,000 ounces of gold and 650,000 ounces of silver. The commissioning of an upgrade project to its flagship Phu Kham project in September has also helped.
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Motley Fool writer/analyst Mike King doesn't own shares in any company mentioned. The Motley Fool's purpose is to help the world invest, better. Take Stock is The Motley Fool's free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Click here now to request your free subscription, whilst it's still available. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.
