-- Consumer staples stocks were advancing about 0.5% in midday trading Tuesday, posting a very thin lead over gains for information technology shares.
Woolworths Group (ASX:WOW) was up nearly 1% and Coles Group (ASX:COL) rose less than 1%.
On the flip side, energy stocks were down 1% as oil prices trended lower amid hopes that Iran will join a second round of peace negotiations with the US.
Woodside Energy Group (ASX:WDS) was shedding almost 2%, while Santos (ASX:STO) was down more than 1%.
Bonjour Holdings (HKG:0653) said it appointed Wong Kai Chi as executive director, vice-chairman, and co-chief executive oficer of the firm, according to a Hong Kong bourse filing Monday.Shares of the beauty products retailer gained over 8% in morning trade Tuesday.The company's current chief executive officer, Wong Iu Ming, was re-designated as co-CEO as part of Wong's appointment.
Zhongce Rubber Group's (SHA:603049) net profit attributable to shareholders in the first quarter rose 5.9% to 1.22 billion yuan from 1.15 billion yuan a year earlier, according to a Tuesday disclosure on the Shanghai bourse.Earnings per share fell 4.8% year on year to 1.39 yuan from 1.46 yuan.Operating revenue climbed 5.2% to 11.2 billion yuan from 10.6 billion yuan in the preceding year.Revenue from the sales of tires rose 3.6% year on year to 9.65 billion yuan, but revenue from the sales of bicycle and motorcycle tires slipped 0.8% to 1.01 billion yuan.The automotive tire manufacturer's tire sales jumped 4.9% to 27.8 million units and bike and motorcycle tire sales fell 7.6% to 29.1 million units from the prior year.
BlueScope Steel's (ASX:BSL) potential sale of US assets might unlock additional value above the existing bid from Seven Group Holdings and Steel Dynamics, based on sum-of-the-parts or break-up valuation, according to a Tuesday Jefferies note.Jefferies has increased its forecast for the company's earnings before interest and tax for fiscal year 2027 by 15%.The upgrade reflects higher expected steel spreads in Asia and the US during the first half of fiscal year 2027, the note added.Jefferies kept a buy rating on Bluescope with a price target of AU$35.The company's shares rose 2% in recent Tuesday trade.