Local investors are facing the prospect of further losses today following yesterday's 1.6% decline, with the S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down another 0.5%. The ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) is also down 0.4% following a poor lead set by international equity markets overnight.
Pleasingly however, a number of companies managed to buck the trend and have generated strong gains today, including these six:
EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) is back in the market's good books today after falling almost 12% between Monday and Wednesday. Although the price of gold actually fell further overnight – extending what has been its worst run since 1996 – investors may believe the selloff has been overdone and bid the stock higher as a result. The gold producer is up an impressive 7.2% today.
Indeed, the same holds true for Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) which have risen 3.3% and 2.3% today, respectively. The latter released its quarterly production results this morning which investors have taken a shining to (excuse the pun).
Japara Healthcare Ltd (ASX: JHC) also lifted an impressive 4.6% despite the absence of any company-specific news which would explain the rise. Japara is an aged-care operator which listed on the ASX in April last year. It endured a rough patch early this year but is once again trading near its record-high levels.
Boral Limited (ASX: BLD) jumped 1.9% to $6.57 per share after the building and construction group issued a profit forecast above what the market had expected. Boral expects net profit after tax (NPAT) before significant items to be between $240 and $250 million thanks to a strong performance in June and higher-than-expected property sales.
Bellamy's Australia Ltd (ASX: BAL) surged another 4.6% with its shares now changing hands for $5.26 after hitting a high of $5.43 earlier in the session. Bellamy's, a Tasmanian-based company that produces baby formula, has enjoyed an incredible run over the last 12 months and could be set to climb even higher due to its strong growth prospects both locally and internationally.
Did you know that Bellamy's has more than quadrupled in price over the last year?
