The trading week ended last week on Thursday, 17 April, with the exchange closed for Good Friday. The S&P ASX 100 Index (ASX: ^XTO) was down 0.4% over the past five trading days. The Aussie dollar ended the week at 93.27 cents to the US$ after rising to 94.60 cents a week before.
Gold has slipped back under US$1,300/oz, closing on Friday around US$1,294/oz.
Here are top four ASX 100 gainers in the past five trading days.
Echo Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: EGP) price: $2.79 (+15.7%)
When the new CEO Matt Bekier assumed his position on 11 April, he announced to senior company people that normalised revenue for the March quarter was up 5.7%. The share price rallied 12% after hearing the result, which was achieved through cost cutting and marketing initiatives.
Challenger Ltd (ASX: CGF) price: $6.72 (+5.2%)
The company and Access Capital Advisers, a global specialist investment company, announced they will merge their infrastructure investment operations starting 1 July, creating Whitehelm Capital. It will have $4 billion under management.
Staff will own 70% of the new company and Challenger's Fidante Partners boutique funds management business will hold the remaining 30%.
Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC) price: $1.37 (+4.6%)
The share price rose on the release of quarterly results of Alcoa World Alumina & Chemicals, which Alumina holds a 40% ownership stake in. Alumina prices and sales volumes were up and a weaker Aussie dollar helped raise earnings.
Bank of Queensland Limited (ASX: BOQ) price: $12.95 (+4.3%)
The bank announced its interim result of a 34% gain in statutory net profit. The interim dividend was raised 14% on the previous corresponding period. It also announced that it will acquire the professional finance, asset finance and leasing businesses of Investec Bank for $440 million.
