National Australia Bank’s Tier 1 ratio will decline by 15 basis points after the acquisition.

Gainers & Losers

Energy stocks were mixed. Paladin Energy advanced 8.3% on speculation crude oil prices will continue to rise.

However other energy stocks dropped as crude oil prices shed 2.6% to $69.60 per barrel. Nexus Energy Limited fell 7%, Atlas Iron dipped 4.5% and Infigen Energy plunged 4.2%.

PanAust Limited closed up 6.9% to 38.50 cents but dropped earlier as low as 34 cents after it said that a mechanical failure may close its plant for more than 3 weeks but later reversed its position and said the disruption to its mine in Laos will be minimal.

ASX 200 Index Movers

Boart Longyear Group led the decliners in the ASX 200 index of 10.4% followed by losses in Australand Property Group of 9.8%, in Hastings Diversified Utilities Fund of 7.3%, in Nexus Energy Limited of 6.9% and in Virgin Blue Holdings Limited of 5.9%.

Macquarie CountryWide Trust led gainers in the ASX 200 index with a rise of 10.4% followed by gains in Macquarie Office Trust of 9.5%, in Paladin Energy Ltd of 8.2% and Caltex Australia Limited of 7.5%.