Records eclipsed as bourse digests Costello's plans

The sharemarket closed higher yesterday as positive sentiment from the budget kicked the major indices into record territory.
Higher base metal prices overnight on Tuesday also helped the big miners pick up extra value.
The benchmark ASX 200 index gained 26.4 points to a record 5352.2 after hitting an intraday record high of 5406.7 points.
The All Ordinaries set a record close for the second day running, moving up 29.4 points to 5305.3 after reaching a fresh intraday high of 5352.1.
At the close of trade on the Sydney Futures Exchange the June share price index contract was up 19 points to 5352 on a volume of 16,809.
ABN Amro private client adviser Craig Walker said the budget, which included tax cuts and changes to superannuation, had provided a strong foundation for the market.
"Certainly the outcome of the budget last night has had some effect on a number of stocks, including AMP and AXA, which are connected directly to positive outcomes from changes on superannuation," he said.
"Tax cuts had a positive effect on the retail stocks with the feeling that people will have a bit more cash to spend."
AMP rose 25c to $9.79, AXA Asia Pacific 16c to $6.65 and Perpetual $2.98 to $73.98 on the back of proposed super reform.
The prospect of greater consumer spending pushed most retail stocks higher.
Coles Myer rose 6c to $10.93 and Harvey Norman 14c to $3.98 but Woolworths fell 1c to $18.92.
Stronger base metals underpinned an upward shift in the major resource stocks.
BHP Billiton rose 35c to $31.35 and Rio Tinto $1.20 to $85.75.
The spot price of gold also surged, breaking through the $US700 an ounce mark, rising $US24.80 to $US703.30 an ounce.
Gold miners rose in response. Newcrest Mining was up 65c to $24.05, Newmont 23c to $7.49 and Lihir Gold 24c to $3.60.
Aviators didn't do so well. Virgin Blue reported a first-half net profit of $68.2 million, down 8.4 per cent, sending its shares slipping 6c to $1.69. Qantas fell 3c to $3.38.
Fertiliser company Incitec Pivot soared $4.35, or 23 per cent, to $23.35 after explosives maker Orica sold its 56.5 per cent stake in the company.
Orica said the sale would add a one-off net gain of $399 million this financial year and its shares rose 8c to $25.75.
The big four banks were largely softer. Commonwealth Bank fell 2c to $46.26 and Westpac 2c to $24.75 but ANZ rose 16c to $28.45.
National Australia Bank fell 44c to $36.80. It is expected to deliver a first-half net profit of nearly $2 billion today.
Other financial stocks were stronger. Macquarie Bank rose 74c to $70.90 and St George 16c to $30.46.
The most traded stock was small explorer Jervois Mining - 183.4 million of its shares were traded, collectively worth $3.75 million. Jervois shares rose 0.1c to 1.9c.
Market turnover reached 1.89 billion shares worth a total of $5.42 billion - 679 stocks were up, 506 down and 309 unchanged.