Despite a positive start, the local share market retreated today, dragged lower by a number of the country's blue-chip shares.
Here's a quick recap:
- S&P/ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) down 0.5% to 5743 points
- ALL ORDINARIES (Index: ^AXAO) (ASX: XAO) down 0.5% to 5795 points
- AUD/USD at US 79.22 cents
- Iron Ore at US$76.17 a tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin
- Gold at US$1,259.83 an ounce
- Brent oil at US$52.17 a barrel
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) share price retreated 1.1% today. The bank said it had decided to reduce the short-term variable remuneration of its executives to zero this year in light of the civil penalty proceedings initiated by AUSTRAC last week.
Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) and BHP Billiton Limited (ASX: BHP) also finished in the red, shedding 0.5% and 0.2% respectively.
The Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) share price also ended the session lower after the company reported its full-year results. Transurban's proportional operating earnings (EBITDA) increased by 10.1% to $1,629 million during the period, although the share price dropped 1.8%.
Other companies that ended the session lower included Webjet Limited (ASX: WEB), down 5.7%, Mayne Pharma Group Ltd (ASX: MYX), down 9.6%, and James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX), down 5.8%.
On a more positive note, IOOF Holdings Limited (ASX: IFL) ended today's session 6.1% higher, while the Aconex Ltd (ASX: ACX) share price rose 2.8%.