The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has started the week strongly. In afternoon trade, the benchmark index is up 0.85% to 6,662.2 points.
Four ASX shares that are climbing more than most today are listed below. Here's why they are charging higher:
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Ansell Limited (ASX: ANN)
The Ansell share price is up 3% to $24.74. This morning the health and safety products company announced its plans to be net zero by 2040. In addition, the company's shares were upgraded by Macquarie to outperform with a $27.85 price target. While the broker acknowledges that its earnings are under pressure due to softening COVID-related demand, it appears to believe Ansell's shares have been oversold this year.
EML Payments Ltd (ASX: EML)
The EML Payments share price is up 5% to $1.07. This morning this embattled payments company revealed that it received takeover interest last month. And while these talks have now ended without a deal being reached, investors appear to believe that this may not be the end of the matter.
Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)
The Suncorp share price is up over 5% to $11.73. Investors have responded positively to news that Suncorp is selling its banking operations to Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) for $4.9 billion. Suncorp advised that it expects to return the majority of the proceeds from the sale to shareholders.
Whitehaven Coal Ltd (ASX: WHC)
The Whitehaven Coal share price is up 5% to $5.89. The catalyst for this was the coal miner releasing its fourth quarter update today. That update reveals that Whitehaven Coal achieved a record average coal price of A$514 per tonne for the three months. As a result of these strong prices, the company expects to report FY 2022 EBITDA of approximately $3 billion. This is up materially from $0.2 billion in FY 2021.
