Aust. market closes easier

Press, 28 May 1983, Page 18

Aust. market closes easier

Australian share prices generally eased in moderately active trading because of profit-taking, triggered by declines overnight on Wall Street, and in world gold, sugar, and base metal prices. The all-ordinaries index was off 4.0 points 615.0, after gaining more than 20 points in the previous three days.

The all-industrials index was down 3.3 points at 759.6;. the all-resources index fell 4.6 at 500.0. Turnovers totalled sAustlB.6 million in Sydney and 13.7 million in Melbourne. Declines slightly outnumbered advances — by 120 to 102 in Sydney, and by 111 to 99 in Melbourne. Trading highlights included two large special sales.

In Melbourne, Westpac topped the volume and value lists largely because of the special sale of 500,000 shares at 270 c apiece, 4c below Thursday’s closing market rate. This comes after sales on Tuesday of parcels comprising 2 million and 260,000 shares in Westpac; Commonwealth Trading Bank superannuation fund was tipped as the seller. The other off-market highlight was the sale of 190,000 shares in John Fairfax and Sons at 270 c apiece, 20c above the prevailing market rate. In on-market trading, leading resource stocks bore the brunt of much of the profit-taking selling pressure, and consequently dominated turnover results in both Sydney and Melbourne. In Sydney, CSR topped both the volume and value tables with trades totalling $2.3 million, mainly because of sales overseas of two parcels totalling 500,000 shares, both at 380 c a share. Industrials. — Amatil, 270; ACI, 146; AdSteam, 270; AustFert, 135; AGC, 218; Ampol, 157; ANI, 260; ANZ, 452; APM, 198; Ariadne, 24; Advertiser, 145; AWA, 368; Bundaberg, 350; BHP, 826; Brambles, 280; Boral, 290; PBums, 235; BorgW, 202; Carp, 185; CIG, 255; Clyde, 140; Comalco, 270; C'maine, 420; CoalAUied, 420; Coles, 285; CSR, 375; CUB, 250; Dunlop, 118; Elders, 340; Email, 113; EZI, 596; Fairfax, 255; Gen Prop, 176; GGotch, 205; JHardie, 383; Hooker, 124; Humes, 140; Herald, 225; ICI, 196; Jennings, 170; Ind Equity, 345; JPerry, 230; DJones, 210; Kauri, 52; Kerncorp, 68; Lend Lease, 440; Mayne Nick, 290; McPhersons, 115; MLC, 800; Monier, 147; PMorris, 345; Myers, 155; Natßank, 290; NatCons, 85; News, 450; NZForest, 287; NZSB, 85; Oakbridge, 148; PionConc, 157; Pion Sugar, 155; Repco, 110; Sleigh, 98; HSmith, 380; Taubmans, 145; TNT, 176; Tooth; 340; UnionCarb, 250; Westpac, 272; Waltons, 70; Woolworths, 210; Wormald, 292. Mining.— 'Aberfoyle, 740; AustDev, 45; Allstate, 54; Ashton, 170; Bougainville, 272; CMI, 320; Cent Norse, 860; Carrßoyd, 162; CRA, 534; Emperor, 280; ERA, 152; GemEx, 5; GMK, 1030; Gold Copper, 39; Hill 50, 52; Magnet, 6; MetalsEx, 72; Mid East, 61; M1M,.458; NthßH, 292; Nth Flin, 105; Placer Dev, 220; PekoW, 698; Paringa, 80; Poseidon, 524; Queen Marg, 16; Renison, 430; Robeßiver, 170; Sthland, 28; Umal, 180; Woodside, 7; WMC, 480. Oils.— Ampol, 220; AOD, 92; AOG, 125; Bridge, 275; Hartogen, 190; Magellan, . 250; Oil Search, 13; PancontPet, 30; SthPac, 18; Santos, 630; Stirling, 3; Timor, 5; Vamgas, 860; Woodside, 111.