The local share market failed to hit 5,700 points today. Despite the best efforts of the gold miners, the ASX fell on what was its final trading session for the 2016 calendar year.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.6% to 5665 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.5% to 5719 points
- AUD/USD at US 72.37 cents
- Iron Ore at US$80.43 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,159.42 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$56.78 a barrel
One of the biggest stories from today is that Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL) has entered an agreement to acquire 19.9% of the shares in Hunter Hall International Ltd (ASX: HHL) from the outgoing Peter Hall.
Soul Patt's shares rose 0.8% while Hunter Hall International slipped 4.6%.
The gold miners provided the most spark today as the gold price marched higher.
Beadell Resources Ltd (ASX: BDR) soared 12.5%, EVOLUTION FPO (ASX: EVN) closed 9.8% higher and Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) jumped 5.1%.
They weren't the only ones. St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) climbed 10.6% and Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL) rose 8.8%, as well.
Elsewhere, Caltex Australia Limited (ASX: CTX) rose 0.9% and Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR) gained 1.5%.
Select Harvests Limited (ASX: SHV) was one of the worst performers for the day. Its shares fell 3.2%. QBE insurance Group Ltd (ASX: QBE) also fell 1.4%.
The iron ore miners didn't perform too well, either. BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) and Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) declined 1.7% apiece.
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