Surge ends in slump with $35b selloff
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed at the day's low, down 118.6 points, or 2.3 per cent, to 4980.1, while the broader All Ordinaries dropped 115.8 points, or 2.3 per cent, to 4998.6.
All sectors finished lower, contributing to the biggest selloff since May last year, with energy stocks slumping 4.6 per cent, materials sliding 3.4 per cent and financials falling 2.4 per cent.
"I'm not overly alarmed, this is probably a healthy break for the market after a strong run," said Mike Kendall, executive director of JBWere. "Pretty much everyone knows that things just won't go up in a straight line."
Another factor contributing to the selloff was comments from the US Federal Reserve, which, citing a risk of inflation, hinted at the winding back of its quantitative easing program.
Miners suffered heavy losses, with BHP falling 3.8 per cent to $37.17, Rio Tinto sliding 3 per cent to $67.30 and Fortescue Metals dropping 2.4 per cent to $4.80.
Mr Kendall said resource companies had been feeling the pressure of capital expenditure coupled with rising labour costs and investor expectations.
"I think a few investors are taking a view that the challenges in that part of the market are probably greater than what's being priced into a stock price," he said.
The financial sector, which had been responsible for a large part of the positive run this year, also felt the wrath of the pull-back. NAB dropped 3.7 per cent to $29.42, CBA fell 3.1 per cent to $64.81, Westpac slipped 2.8 per cent to $29.49 and ANZ lost 2.6 per cent to $27.98.
Origin Energy was one of the biggest losers of the day, down 8.5 per cent to $11.33, after the company's half-year net profit fell more than $200 million from the corresponding period.
Whitehaven Coal shares dived 6.1 per cent to $2.94 as managing director Tony Haggarty stepped down after rumoured difficulties in dealing with Nathan Tinkler since he became a major shareholder.
Qantas was one of the few that bucked the downward trend. The airline reported it had more than doubled its first-half net profit to $111 million. Its shares finished up 2.8 per cent to $1.66.
IAG shares jumped 2.8 per cent to $5.57 after the insurer reported a more than tripling of its first-half earnings to $461 million, citing as a major factor fewer natural disaster claims than in previous earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The sharemarket suffered its biggest one-day loss in nine months, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 falling 118.6 points (2.3%) to 4980.1 and the All Ordinaries down 115.8 points (2.3%) to 4998.6. The $35 billion decline was driven by broad selling across all sectors after a strong early-2013 surge and was amplified by US Federal Reserve comments hinting at winding back its quantitative easing program.
All sectors finished lower, with energy stocks slumping about 4.6%, materials sliding roughly 3.4% and the financial sector falling around 2.4% on the day—making it the biggest selloff since May of the previous year.
Miners suffered heavy losses: BHP fell 3.8% to $37.17, Rio Tinto slid 3.0% to $67.30 and Fortescue Metals dropped 2.4% to $4.80. The article notes resource companies were under pressure from capital expenditure demands, rising labour costs and shifting investor expectations.
The financial sector, which had contributed strongly to earlier gains this year, also fell: NAB dropped 3.7% to $29.42, CBA fell 3.1% to $64.81, Westpac slipped 2.8% to $29.49 and ANZ lost 2.6% to $27.98.
Origin Energy was one of the biggest losers, down 8.5% to $11.33 after reporting that its half-year net profit fell by more than $200 million versus the corresponding period—news that triggered investor selling.
Whitehaven Coal shares dived 6.1% to $2.94 after managing director Tony Haggarty stepped down. The article links his departure to rumoured difficulties in dealing with major shareholder Nathan Tinkler since Tinkler became a large stakeholder.
Yes. Qantas bucked the trend, rising 2.8% to $1.66 after reporting its first-half net profit more than doubled to $111 million. Insurer IAG also jumped 2.8% to $5.57 after first-half earnings more than tripled to $461 million, helped by fewer natural disaster claims.
Market commentators in the article described the fall as not necessarily alarming—Mike Kendall of JBWere called it a "healthy break" after a strong run and noted markets don't move up in a straight line. The selloff was linked to macro cues (US Fed talk about tapering quantitative easing) and sector-specific pressures (resource capex and labour costs). Many investors use such pullbacks to reassess risk exposure, but the article does not offer specific investment advice.
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