ASX Round-Up: ASX Rises on Positive Economic Data, Interim Results

Today, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) rose 35.1 points, ultimately hitting 5,166.5 points.
However, despite that positive move, which The Sydney Morning Herald states was caused by positive local economic data and promising interim company results, shares finished the week lower. Specifically, the ASX lost 23.5 points, or 0.4 percent, over the course of the week. The loss came on the back of the worst January performance for local stocks in four years.
One positive performer on the ASX today was oil and gas exploration and development company Aurora Oil & Gas (ASX:AUT), which gained $1.27, or 56.11 percent, to trade at $4.09. AWE (ASX:AWE), an energy company focused on oil and gas in Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Indonesia, also gained today, rising 11.24 percent, or $0.14, to hit $1.39.
On the losing side was Mount Gibson Iron (ASX:MGX), which declined by 1.44 percent today, sinking $0.07 to a price of $1.03. Mount Gibson mines and ships hematite iron ore in Australia.