daytrade diaries... february 15 part 2, page-2

Thanks hll

The Australian stock market was flat at noon on thin trading, with little to guide the market other than a weak US lead on Friday and mostly softer base metals prices.

All Ordinaries index had shed 14 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 4,574 points.

Analyst said ?Thin trading volumes were expected to continue on Tuesday because no direction would come from the US overnight, where the market is closed on Monday for the President's Day public holiday. It's relatively quiet and will be around Asia, as well, because it's Chinese New Year,"

Regional lender Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (BEN) has doubled its profit for the half year and is optimistic about the future.Net profit after tax jumped 105.7% to $104.1 million for the six months to December 31, 2009 compared to $50.6 million recorded in the same period a year earlier. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank declared an interim dividend of 28 cents a share. BEN reported profit of $83.8 million for the 12 months to June 30, 2009.

Hospital owner Healthscope Ltd (HSP) has reported a 17% rise in profit to $45.1 million for the six months to December 31, 2009, up from $38.4 million recorded in the first half of 2008. Revenue rose 9% to $905 million during the period, with the company declaring a dividend of 11.5 cents a share up 9.5% on the same period a year ago.Looking ahead the company says earnings in the second half are expected to be stronger than the first half. Shares in Healthscope fell 3.89% to $4.45.

The best performing sector at midday is the Telco Services index, up 16 points at 1,085.

The worst performing sector at midday is the Materials index, down 65 points to 11,965.

Gold is trading at US$1,094.40 an ounce and the Aussie dollar is trading at 88.71 US cents.

http://www.marketwatch.com/
http://www.thebull.com.au/
http://www.news.com.au/business/