S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX:XJO) closed up 24 points or 0.4% to 6,383 with gains across the board.
The index finished firmer for a third day, buoyed by optimism of further rate cuts in Australia and in the US.
Major oil and gas discovery
Santos (ASX:STO) and Carnarvon Petroleum (ASX:CVN) announced the discovery of a major oil and gas resource off the coast of Western Australia.
READ: Carnarvon Petroleum appraisal confirms major Dorado oil and gas resource, shares up
Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher said “This is a great result which indicates the Dorado discovery is larger than anticipated and which significantly de-risks a future development.”
Santos rose 1% to $6.72, while Carnarvon rallied 3.7% to $0.56.
Bank of Queensland gains
Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) announced Westpac's outgoing head of consumer banking George Frazis will join on September 5 as managing director and CEO.
The regional lender’s shares closed up 1.0% to $9.44.
Regis Healthcare falls
Regis Healthcare (ASX:REG) fell 6.6% to $2.56 after warning its full-year profit would likely come in at the lower end of its $47-51 million guidance, while also flagging lower earnings for the year ahead.
The company now expects earnings for FY20 to be about $105 million – down from an expected $113 million in FY19 – due to expenses from regulatory changes.