Local shares edged higher today, although the gains achieved earlier in the session were largely eroded as the day wore on.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) flat at 5562 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) up 0.1% to 5619 points
- AUD/USD at US 74.53 cents
- Iron Ore at US$81.66 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,157.07 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$56.67 a barrel
Cover-More Group Ltd (ASX: CVO) was one of the big news stories today. Its share price soared 42.2% after receiving a takeover offer. This was likely a relief to shareholders of the company.
Infant formula maker Bellamy's Australia Ltd (ASX: BAL) was the other big news story. Its shares were placed in a trading halt pending another trading announcement.
Outside of those companies, BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) provided plenty of drive, its shares lifting 1.3%. South32 Ltd (ASX: S32) gained 0.7%, while Fortescue Metals Group Limited (ASX: FMG) rose 2.4%.
Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS), on the other hand, slipped 0.8%, while Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) closed 0.3% higher.
The gold miners acted as a drag on the broader market today. Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) slipped 2.6%, and St Barbara Ltd (ASX: SBM) shed 3.2%.
Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd (ASX: LNG) and Mesoblast limited (ASX: MSB) were two of the other big movers today. They rose 11.7% and 7.6%, respectively.
Meanwhile, Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) nosedived 7.7%.
Here are Monday's top stories:
- Why the Cover-More Group Ltd share price is soaring today
- This stock has turned $10,000 into $293,000: Where to next?
- 3 warning signs for property investors in 2017
- Why Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd shares have plunged today
- 2 cheap growth shares that I'd buy with $5,000 today
- Dow Jones hits record high: Should you sell everything?
