The market is up 6. SFE Futures were flat this morning.

US market down 33. The Dow was up 18 at best and down 43 at worst. With no major economic data released in the US markets traded on light volumes as they await Fed Chairman Bernanke’s August 31 presentation at Jackson Hole. There is growing belief that QE3 or further stimulus measures will be announced — the symposium has been used to announce QE before. Fed Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans spoke in Hong Kong yesterday where he urged the Fed to set in train a QE3 initiative. The Fed Bank of Dallas Manufacturing Index came in better than expected at -1.6 although still pointing to slower growth in the manufacturing space.

European Markets up — UK FTSE (closed), German DAX up 1.10%, France up 0.86%, Spain up 0.86%, Italy up 0.89% and Greece was up 0.32%. The Stoxx Europe 600 index was up 0.5% with all 10 sectors managing gains. Technology (+1.3%), Telecoms (+0.7%) and Financials (+0.7%). The German IFO business sentiment index fell for the fourth straight month in August, down to 102.3 from 103.2. The German finance minister said that Germany and France will launch a working group sometime this week to work on the euro zone fiscal and banking union. European Central Bank President Draghi will speak on the European debt crisis on September 1. According to Bloomberg, total shares exchanged in the Stoxx 600 was more than 60% below the average for the last 30 days. Metals flat – The LME was closed overnight for a bank holiday. Oil down 45c to $95.70. Gold down $6.00 to $1666.70.

  • Seven Group (SVW) — FY result beats guidance — Net profit of $165.9m up 165.9% from $70.4m.  SVW is up 4.4% to 794c.
  • Beach Energy (BPT) — FY result above broker consensus — Net profit of $164m up $262m from the previous year. BPT is down 1.98% to 1234c.
  • Aristocrat Leisure (ALL) — Interim result beats forecast — Net profit of $34.7m up 40% which beat company forecast for profit to be between $30m-$33m. ALL is up 5.05% to 270c.
  • Charter Hall Group (CHC) — Net profit of $54.8m down 9.7%. Operating earnings of $63.6m up 4.4%. Dividend of 9.1c which brings the FY distribution to 18.2c. CHC is up 0.4% to 251c.
  • Flight Centre (FLT) — FY result in line with consensus — Net profit was $200.1m up 43.1% and in line with a broker consensus of $199.7m. FLT is up 1.27% to 2390c.
  • Perseus Mining (PRU) — FY result slightly below consensus — Net profit of $52m up from a loss of $51m the previous year. PRU is down 2.6% to 258c.
  • Virgin Australia (VAH) — No dividend declared, continuing uncertain economic environment — Net profit of $22.8m compared to a $67.8m loss the previous year. VAH is down 3.6% to 46c.
  • FKP Property (FKP) — Announces $208m entitlement offer — Underlying profit of $94.7m which was within the guidance range of $91.9m-$104.3m. FKP is flat at 38c.
  • Abacus Property Group (ABP) — Underlying profit of $76.8m slightly above last year’s $72.2m. ABP is down 0.25% to 198c.

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