The ASX 200 (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) was eventful this week, there were plenty of reports released. Here are four stories you may have missed that affected businesses in the ASX 200 index:
Coronavirus infects the ASX share market
The coronavirus is no longer just a problem for just for China, but it's now dozens of countries which have reported at least one case.
Whilst the human element is sad, the market is fearing there could be longer disruptions to supply chains and other problems if countries have to implement lockdowns.
The ASX 200 dropped 10% over the week and ended fell 3.25% on Friday. There was pain across the board for global trade exposed businesses. The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price fell by 12% over the week and the WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price dropped 22%.
Afterpay Ltd (ASX: APT) result
The buy now, pay later business reported its result for the half-year to 31 December 2019.
Afterpay reported that its underlying sales increased by 109% to $4.8 billion. It said that its active customers grew by 134% to 7.3 million and its active merchants increased by 86% to 43,200.
The Afterpay net transaction margin rose by 118% to $102 million and its gross loss as a percentage of sales improved to 1% from 1.2%.
It's aiming to reach 9.5 million active customers by the end of FY20.
A2 Milk Company Ltd (ASX: A2M) result
The infant formula company also announced its half-year result this week.
It reported that its total revenue rose by 31.6% to NZ$806.7 million. The company managed to increase earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) by 20.5% to $263.2 million with the EBITDA margin of 32.6% being better than expected.
Net profit after tax (NPAT) grew by 21.1% to NZ$184.9 million.
The EBITDA margin for the full-year is still expected to be in the range of 29% to 30% with a long-term goal of 30% which reflects the ongoing investment in marketing. However, the coronavirus is causing uncertainty.
Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) result
Ramsay also reported its half-year result this week.
The private hospital operator announced its revenue increased by 22.5% to $6.3 billion, excluding Capio revenue was up 4.8%.
Ramsay reported that its core net profit after tax was $273.6 million, which was up 3.4% on a like for like basis. Core earnings per share (EPS) was 132.5 cents, up 3.7% on a like for like basis.
The Ramsay Board decided to increase the interim dividend by 4.2% to 62.5 cents per share.
Ramsay believes that FY20 core EPS growth on a like for like basis will be between 2% to 4%, which corresponds to a decline of core EPS of -6% to -4% under the new lease accounting standard AASB16.
