A falling National Australia Bank Ltd. (ASX: NAB) share price wasn't enough to deter the market from ending today's session in the black.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) up 0.2% to 5850 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) up 0.2% to 5882 points
- AUD/USD at US 74.22 cents
- Iron Ore at US$60.80 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,233.41 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$51.93 a barrel
The NAB share price dropped 3.5% today after the bank's shares went ex-dividend. Investors who owned the shares leading into today's session are entitled to a 99 cent per share dividend, fully franked.
NAB's big bank rivals each ended the session higher, with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price rising 0.5%.
Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) also rose 2.3% for the blue chips, while BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) gained 0.8%.
Sirtex Medical Limited (ASX: SRX) didn't perform so well, its share price sliding 4.2%. Orica Ltd (ASX: ORI) also slid 3.4% for the session. Orica released its half-year earnings report, revealing a 4.5% reduction in revenue.
Gold miner St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) was among the market's best performers today, lifting 2.9%.
And the Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) share price rose 3% after it continued its European expansion.
Here are Tuesday's top stories:
