- ASX200 is trading 0.42% higher at 7594.20 after lunchtime.
- Atlassian, Afterpay & 23 companies formed Australia?s Tech Council.
- Regional Express share price hit by profit forecast update & stand downs.
The Australian market continues its record run today, trading 0.42% higher at 7594.20 after lunchtime as the energy and utilities sectors lead gains on the key index. IOOF Holdings and Orocobre are the top gainers on the markets so far today, up 6.05% and 5.57% respectively.
The tech sector is the worst performer today as Megaport slumps more than 6% after JP Morgan downgraded it to underweight. In other tech stocks, Iress is surging 5% while Xero is down 2.93%.
Bitcoin remains steady this afternoon, trading just 0.46% lower at US$45,598.11 at 1:45pm AEST.
Australian tech leaders Afterpay and Atlassian have teamed up with 23 other companies including Google and Tesla to create Australia?s ?Tech Council? to push for greater support for the nation's tech sector. The TCA has three core goals; create 1 million jobs in Australia?s tech sector by 2025, grow the industry?s contribution to national GDP to $250bn by 2031, and put Australia on the map as a global startup hub.
Making headlines, Regional Express airlines is taking a hit today after the airline said its previously forecasted statutory loss of $15m for the FY, will now be a larger $18m. Rex attributes NSW?s ongoing lockdown and state border closures to the increased loss anticipated for the FY results. As a result of the forecast update, Rex also announced it will be implementing temporary staff stand downs.
And a new homemade robot designed by Indonesian villagers and scientists using old pots, pans and tv monitors called the ?Delta Robot? has been turned into a food home-delivery service to residents who are self-isolating after contracting COVID-19.