ASX records fifth straight fall, Nine and Domain surge on CoStar bid

ASX 200 declines:

• Guzman y Gomez (-14.3%) — Saw franchise profitability slip to 50%, down from 53% in August, but otherwise largely met first-half estimates.
• REA Group (-11.4%) — Rival real estate platform Domain received a takeover offer from US property firm CoStar. REA's controlling shareholder News Corp (-6.5%) also fell.

ASX 200 gains:

• Nine Entertainment (20.1%) — Told investors it will consider CoStar's takeover proposal for its majority owned real estate platform Domain, which saw its own shares surge 40%.
• Telix Pharmaceuticals (13.8%) — Reported a tenfold jump in full-year profit as sales of its prostate cancer diagnostic agent Illuccix drove revenues 56% higher.

Earnings news:

• QBE Insurance (3%) — Lifted its full-year profit and dividend ahead of expectations on the back of premium growth and higher investment income.
• Ramelius Resources (3.8%) — More than trebled its first-half profit and declared its maiden interim dividend, boosted by higher production at its flagship Mount Magnet gold mine.
• Codan (-5.5%) — Fell despite reporting a 21% rise in first-half net profit and raising its interim dividend, as its communications business easily topped its growth target for the period.
• Block (-5.9%) — Fourth-quarter earnings and revenue missed Wall Street estimates, but the dual-listed tech group saw a 10% jump in gross payment volume at its point-of-sale platform Square.
• Newmont (-2.4%) — Reported a jump in full-year profit on the back of higher production and rising gold prices.
• Jumbo Interactive (-8.8%) — Cut payouts following an 11.4% fall in first-half net profit, amid what the company called a "relatively subdued" large jackpot environment.
• Inghams (2.2%) — Posted a 19% decline in first-half profit, missing market estimates as it transitioned to a new supply agreement with Woolworths.
• Gold Road Resources (-1.9%) — Notched record profit and sales for the year to December on the back of increased production and higher gold prices.
• Accent Group (-1.9%) — Lifted its half-year profit and increased sales, but said its gross margins were impacted by the the prevailing promotional environment.
• Spark New Zealand (-19.3%) — Reported a 78% slide in first-half profit and slashed its full-year guidance after its bottom line was hit by spending cuts and mobile fleet reductions across government and businesses.
• Superloop (2.8%) — Narrowed its half-year loss on the back of new customers and a lucrative contract from Origin Energy.

Other news:

• Telstra (0.2%) — Found by the Federal Court to have made false or misleading claims relating to the upload speed of broadband internet services supplied to nearly 9,000 customers of its low-cost value brand Belong.
• Deep Yellow (5.1%) — Said it would take "all necessary action to protect its interests" as it faces a fresh legal challenge in Namibia.
• Mayne Pharma (33.1%) — US-based Cosette Pharmaceuticals agreed to acquire the specialty pharmaceutical company, valuing its equity at around $672 million.
• Materials (1.6%) — Ended as the best performing sector as BHP (2.8%), Rio Tinto (2.8%), and Fortescue (2.3%) rallied on rising iron ore prices after reporting softer-than-expected earnings this week.
• WiseTech Global — Index fund giant Vanguard lifted its stake in the market's largest tech stock earlier this month ahead of the company placing its shares in a trading halt, as its board discusses governance related matters.

The Australian dollar is buying 63.93 US cents.

What’s ahead: Earnings season continues next week, with Ampol, APA Group, Lovisa and NIB among those due to report on Monday.