Big results keep bourse bubbling

The Australian sharemarket ended the day in positive territory, with a string of strong results encouraging investors.
Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd, David Jones and CSL were the stand-outs, rallying strongly after posting big profits.
The ASX 200 was up 7.6 points at 4886.7 while the All Ordinaries was 12.3 points higher at 4842.5.
On the Sydney Futures Exchange the March share price index contract was down seven points at 4866 on a volume of 15,236 contracts at the close of day trading.
ABN Amro Morgan's private client adviser Bill Bishop said that after falling earlier in the reporting season, the major indices were now bouncing back towards their highs.
"It's a pretty good day and the reporting season continues to be a successful one," Mr Bishop said.
Shares in department store David Jones rocketed more than 10 per cent after it raised its profit guidance, despite reporting a slight fall in second-quarter sales.
"That was extraordinary, a great shot in the arm for the retail sector," Mr Bishop said.
David Jones shares closed 25c higher at $2.71 while Coles Myer gained 23c to $9.73, but Woolworths fell 2c to $17.83.
Another highlight was the Packer family's media and gambling empire PBL, which soared 3.6 per cent, gaining 58c to $16.68 after reporting a better-than-expected $387 million first-half net profit.
Media group News Corp fell 11c to $22.79 with its non-voting shares down 8c to $21.62, while the Seven Network added 8c to $8.05.
Blood product and vaccine maker CSL also enjoyed investor favour, with its shares shooting up nearly 8 per cent after it raised its annual profit expectations and delivered a $176 million first-half net profit.
Its shares closed up $3.70 or 7.7 per cent at $51.50.
But Smorgon Steel suffered, its shares plunging more than 17 per cent as the company reported a fall in half-yearly net profit to $60.5 million and pointed to weakness in the Australian manufacturing sector.
Smorgon Steel shares closed 27c lower at $1.295.
ANZ Bank gained 36c to $25.57 after issuing a market update saying it was on track to meet its targets, while National Australia Bank gained 2c to $35.71 and Westpac moved up 15c to $23.38. Commonwealth Bank edged down 1c to $43.82.
The major resource stocks took a breather yesterday, with BHP Billiton pulling back 8c to $24.90 and Rio Tinto shedding $2.26 to $73.24 as its shares went ex-dividend.
Meanwhile energy company Woodside Petroleum slipped 2c to $42.73.
Goldminer Newcrest lost 6c to $24.30 but Newmont gained 5c to $7.65.
The spot price of gold closed at $US554.65, up by $US2.275 from Tuesday's close.
Qantas jumped 5c to $4.09 after the Federal Government's decision to knock back Singapore Airlines's quest to fly the lucrative Australia to US route.
But AGL fell 11c to $19.35 after West Australian utility Alinta increased its stake in the energy group following its merger proposal for the two companies.
Telecommunications company Telstra was the top traded stock, with 51.42 million shares traded for a total value of $208.5 million. Its shares closed 6c higher at $3.89.
Market turnover was 1.25 billion shares changing hands, worth a total of $5.62 billion, with 535 stocks rising, 510 falling and 332 unchanged.