FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Australian Shares Up; Rio Tinto Group Reports Lower Q2 Copper Production

By

Australian shares rose on Wednesday as investors reacted to a slowdown in inflation in the US.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 0.37%, or 32.60 points, to close at 8,841.10.

The US consumer price index fell 0.4% in June, its first decline since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brent crude oil futures were trading around $85 per barrel as hostilities continued between the US and Iran.

Overnight, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite rose 0.4% and 0.9%, respectively.

In company news, Rio Tinto Group (ASX:RIO) reported a 7% year-over-year decline in the second-quarter consolidated copper production to 213,000 tonnes, while global iron ore production fell 1% to 87.1 million tonnes. Iron ore production at its Pilbara operations during the period remained flat year over year at 83.5 million tonnes, while Pilbara iron ore sales rose 7% to 85.3 million tonnes.

Kingsgate Consolidated (ASX:KCN) has restarted processing at Thailand-based Chatree gold mine's Plant 1 at 50% of normal capacity following remediation works and modifications to the plant's processing circuit.

Lastly, Evolution Mining (ASX:EVN) reported group production of 179,655 ounces of gold for the June quarter. Group production was 182,388 ounces of gold in the prior corresponding period.

Related Articles

Asia

Aussie Broadband's Ability to Deliver Its Fiscal Year 2028 Ambitions Faces Limited Impact from Satellite Disruption Threat, Jarden Says

Aussie Broadband's (ASX:ABB) ability to deliver its fiscal year 2028 ambitions will face limited impact from the threat of satellite internet disruption, Jarden said in a Tuesday report.Starlink could emerge as a structural threat, amid SpaceX's stated ambition to move upmarket into suburban and urban premises. However, Starlink's share gains to date have not come at the expense of NBN connections. Starlink has lifted total household internet penetration, while fixed-line NBN connections have remained stable in absolute terms.Aussie Broadband's group cost growth, excluding acquisitions, will run below the consumer price index, allowing the firm to grow earnings organically ahead of market expectations despite the residential slowdown. It will compound underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization at around 21%, from fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2028.The investment firm upgraded its rating on Aussie Broadband to overweight from neutral and retained its AU$5.50 per share price target.

ASX:ABB
Asia

Korea Exchange Halts Kospi, Kosdaq Trading for Five Minutes After Strong Buying

The Korea Exchange activated a five-minute buy-side sidecar on the country's primary and secondary stock markets on Wednesday morning after investors rushed to buy semiconductor stocks amid an upbeat AI sector outlook despite tensions in the Middle East.The Korea Exchange announced the order at 9:06 am after the KOSPI200 Futures added 71.50 points, or 6.5%, to trade at 1,170.60, and at 9:17 am after the KOSDAQ150 Futures index added 83 points, or 6.1%, to trade at 1,439.50.A buy-side sidecar is activated when the KOSPI200 Futures index and the KOSDAQ150 Futures index rise 5% or more for at least one minute.

^KOSDAQKOSPI
Asia

China Southern Airlines Warns of Wider H1 Loss

China Southern Airlines (HKG:1055, SHA:600029) expects an attributable net loss of 3.47 billion yuan to 3.97 billion yuan for the first half, widening from 1.53 billion yuan a year earlier, according to a Tuesday filing with the Hong Kong bourse.The company attributed the expected loss to sharply higher aviation fuel costs amid geopolitical tensions, despite growth in passenger traffic and revenue during the first half.Hong Kong-listed shares of the airline were down nearly 2% in Wednesday morning trade.

HKG:1055SHA:600029