ASX200 up 52 points (0.8%) to 6685.
- Afterpay (+1.5%); Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe said the bank was “unlikely” to conclude that Afterpay and other BNPL firms would have to remove their no-surcharge rules, in a big win for the industry.
- Downer (+3.2%); has confirmed it is in talks with MACA on possible sale of Mining West Unit.
- Iron Ore; tops US$145 a tonne. BHP +2.5% FMG +3.7% MGX +4.3% RIO +2.1%
- Metcash (+8.7%); reported a net profit of $125.1m in the six months through October, compared to a $151.6m loss in pcp. Said recent demand for its products had remained strong.
- Mesoblast (+1.6%); Phase 3 trial results show remestemcel-L had “clinically meaningful overall responses and survival in children with SR-aGVHD,” according to a presentation from lead investigator Dr. Joanne Kurtzbereg.
- Monadelphous (+2.1%); to begin process to obtain a refund from the ATO.
- Noxopharm (+7.5%); has identified a new series of small molecules that are highly active against hard-to-treat cancer types such as the grouping of pancreatic, gallbladder and liver cancers. Equally importantly, this new series of compounds demonstrates substantial resistance to Phase 2 metabolism, a process designed to clear drugs from the body, but which can lead to considerable loss of anti-cancer function and has served to this time as a major barrier to the development of this class of anti-cancer drug.
- Qantas (+2.4%); Virgin Australia announced that Qantas FF Gold status and above members are invited to receive a three-month Velocity Discover Gold Status trial membership.
- Regional Express (+16%); I cant see any specific news today. We know the borders are reopening and REX will get involved with interstate travel…….
- Santos (+2.7%); has signed an agreement with a unit of Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp for the supply of LNG from its proposed Barossa development in Australia.
- Westpac (+0.5%); said it would sell Westpac Fiji and Westpac’s 89.91% stake in Westpac Bank PNG to Papua New Guinea-based financial services company Kina for up to $420m.
……….and Sir Donald Bradman’s first Australian baggy green cap is up for auction. The Australian cricket legend’s cap from his debut Test series in 1928/29 will be sold on Thursday. A number of Bradman’s baggy green caps have previously been auctioned, with his 1948 edition from the famous Ashes tour of England selling for $425,000 in 2003. Don’t forget earlier this year the Commonwealth Bank paid $1,007,500 for Shane Warne’s baggy green.
