The Australian market rallied into Friday closing the last trading session of the week 0.26% higher at 7406.20 points, driven by a rally for gold miners as the price of gold continues to rise. For the week, the ASX has gained 1.53%.
The stocks that made headlines today were:
Premier Investments as shares in the specialty retail chains operator fell despite the company releasing first half results including record sales for its Peter Alexander business. The company also announced a record interim dividend, but investors sold out of Premier Investments shares after the company reported a 13% decrease in net profit after tax.
Travel shares rallied today after Australia?s health minister Greg Hunt announced the removal of the need for travellers to test negative to COVID-19 before boarding a flight into Australia. Qantas shares rallied 1.2% after the airline also launched its ?I still call Australia home? campaign today, Flight Centre added 3.6% and Webjet closed the session 0.4% higher.
And Z Energy shares traded flat today despite the company?s shareholders voting in favour of the Scheme of Arrangement under which 100% of the shares in Z Energy will be acquired by Ampol Holdings in New Zealand, in a deal worth almost 2 billion New Zealand dollars.