ASX wavers after earnings deluge; Qantas rockets

The Australian sharemarket opened unchanged on Thursday as investors shifted through dozens of results on one of the busiest days during this month's reporting season.
The S&P/ASX 200 index was down 7.5 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 8953 at 10.15am AEST with six of the 11 index sectors lower led by energy and technology.
Industrials were the strongest of the five higher as Qantas advanced 11.9 per cent as it reported a $2.39 billion record - its second highest ever - and up $316 million for a year ago. In addition to new Airbus A321XLR aircraft orders, Qantas will pay a special dividend of 9.9.
Energy tumbled as Woodside fell 3.2 per cent as crude oil drifted 0.5 per cent just before the open. Tech was dragged down as WiseTech Global tumbled 6.2 per cent after it was downgraded by brokers following its earnings miss on Wednesday.
Health losses were headlined by Ramsay Healthcare, which dived 11.8 per cent, after solid earnings for its Australian and UK operations was offset by challenges at its British mental health service business Elysium and its European hospitals business, Sante. Melbourne-based Telix Pharmaceuticals tumbled 21 per cent as the FDA identified deficiencies in the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) package for its Zircaix product undergoing testing.
Stocks on the move
Wesfarmers, the group behind hardware giant Bunnings and Kmart, edged up 0.2 per cent after it posted 14.4 per cent rise in net profit to of $2.926 billion and rewarded investors with a special dividend.
IDP Education surged 22.7 per cent after it posted a 14 per cent drop in revenue to $882.2 million for the full year as a crackdown on international students weighed on placement and testing volumes.
Australia's largest car dealership group, Eagers Automotive roared 21.3 per cent as it lifted half year net profit by 2.3 per cent to $119 million as it made outsized gains in the electric vehicle and hybrid market.
TPG Telecom fell 3 per cent following a 2.2 per cent rise in service revenue to $2.06 billion for the half-year, driven by an additional 100,000 mobile subscribers following its regional network expansion.
Medibank Private lost 3.3 per cent as it expected the number of Australian residents taking out private health insurance with the company to moderate this year.
Beacon Lighting slid 3.1 per cent after a net profit of $29.4 million in fiscal 2025, 2.4 per cent lower than a year ago.
Mineral Resources dived 4.2 per cent as it swung to a near-$900 million annual loss, down from a profit a year ago of $114 million.
South32 slumped 3.1 per cent on a net profit of $US213 million for the full year, reversing a $US203 million loss in FY24.
And, Appen rose 1.7 per cent as it said its China business is performing strongly, offsetting a challenging US market.

Sumber : AFR