Market report: ASX chalks up five-week winning streak

The Australian stock market finished the week up for the fifth week in a row today as investor’s maintained their run of confidence despite weaker-than-expected jobs and retail sales data out of the US overnight.

Asian markets had mixed reactions to the news today while investors remain skittish in Europe. More substantial US jobs data due out tonight is expected to paint a more positive picture of the US economy, however, which should help to calm nerves across the board.

Locally, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index ended the day a mere 0.4 points down at 4,566.1 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index was up marginally up 1.4 points at 4,586.3 points.

The S&P/ASX Health Care Index added 122 points to close the week on 8305 points.

Cancer specialists Prima BioMed (ASX:PRR) saw the heaviest trade today, with 3.13 million shares exchanged, although the stock closed unchanged at $0.10. Healthcare provider Healthscope (ASX:HSP) also attracted considerable interest with 2.35 million shares changing hands to inch the stock up one cent to $6.00.

Drug developer and pharmacy operator Sigma Pharmaceutical Limited (ASX:SIP) also saw high activity today with 1.56 million shares traded, but its price also failed to budge, closing at $0.47. Melbourne generics producer Halcygen Pharmaceuticals (ASX:HGN) saw the same volumes traded today, the stock closing up two cents to $0.61.

CSL (ASX:CSL) was the most actively traded amongst the majors today, with 1.47 million shares exchanged leaving the stock up 30 cents to $33.68.

ResMed (ASX:RMD) was also up slightly, adding 34 cents to $68.03, while Cochlear (ASX:COH) ended the day down 11 cents to $70.29. Cochlear delivers its full year results next week.