The ASX was dragged down by CSL this morning, but retailers have performed strongly. -AAP Image
The local share market has dipped modestly this morning, dragged by CSL after the blood products giant disappointed with a drop in profit, while retailers have advanced after strong results from their US peers.
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At noon on Wednesday the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 11.3 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 7094.1. The broader All Ordinaries was down 16.6 points, or 0.23 per cent, to 7345.3.
CSL was down 2.9 per cent to $287.71, pulling the market down 12.5 points since posting a six per cent drop in full-year net profit to $US2.26 billion after encountering higher costs to coax Americans to donate plasma.
Commonwealth Bank was also weighing on the market as it traded ex-dividend. Australia's second-largest company was down 1.5 per cent to $99.90.
The other big banks were higher with NAB up the most, by 0.5 per cent.
Consumer companies gained ground after Walmart overnight boosted its annual profit guidance and Home Depot beat quarterly sales estimates.
Kmart and Bunnings owner Wesfarmers climbed 2.7 per cent to a three-month high of $49.20, Woolworths climbed 1.2 per cent to $39.08 and Just Jeans and Smiggle owner Premier Investments added 2.4 per cent to $22.35.
Also, Super Retail Group was up 8.4 per cent to $11.08 after the Rebel Sports and Supercheap Auto owner beat expectations by delivering a full-year net profit after tax of $244.1 million.
Santos was down 2.4 per cent to $6.91 after reporting record full-year earnings while disclosing that its Pikka oil project in Alaska would cost more than expected.
