Market Updates

The ASX 200 fell 67 points to 8,772, leaving the market down around 25 points for the week. Once again, we saw money flowing out of resources, industrials and the technology sector, and back into the relative safety of the banking sector. The Big Bank Basket rose to $288.03 (+1.2%). CBA rose 1.0% and NAB gained 1.5%, while insurers also benefited from higher bond yields, with QBE up 1.4%. MQG continued to push higher following the CEO retirement announcement, but other financials slipped, with HUB down 3.1% and IFT falling 1.2%. REITs were mixed, with GMG down 2.7% while SGP edged slightly higher.
Industrials were well and truly on the nose yet again, with WES down 1.0%. Retail stocks generally drifted lower, with most names down around X%. The technology sector was once again battered and bruised, with REA down 3.7%, XRO falling 4.5%, and WTC also hit hard.
Healthcare was no refuge either, with CSL down 1.3% and RMD falling 0.4%.
Resources were not spared, with BHP down 2.9% and RIO off 1.7%. Gold miners were once again under pressure as the bullion price looked to be testing US$4,000 an ounce yet again. NST fell 3.9% and EVN dropped 2.4% Lithium stocks were also depressed, with LTR falling hard and PLS down 2.1%. Rare earth and copper stocks were also in the doghouse, while uranium stocks continued to slide.
Energy stocks were one of the brighter spots, with both WDS and STO firmer, while KAR enjoyed a good day following a broker upgrade.
Corporate News, COH edged higher after confirming it would not be subject to the new US tariffs. ASX fell after announcing the retirement of its CFO. There was nothing of note on the local economic front. The US tariff saga continues, with Australia hit by 12.5% tariffs on products linked to alleged "forced labour" issues.
Asian markets were weaker, Nikkei 225 down 2.9%, HK down 1.4% and China off 1.3% - Korea down 6.0%. US futures drifting.
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US stocks closed lower on Thursday amid deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop and renewed doubts over AI spending. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 1.9%, and the Dow Jones shed 507 points. Communication services and consumer discretionary were by far the worst performing sectors while tech was also under pressure. Despite solid earnings, Alphabet fell 6.9% after raising its capital spending forecast, while Tesla tumbled 14.5% as profit declined despite strong electric-vehicle deliveries. Other hyperscalers also weakened, with Nvidia (-1.6%), Microsoft (-2.2%), Meta (-3.4%), Amazon (-4.6%), Broadcom (-1.1%) and Oracle (-4.6%) posting losses. Treasury yields rose as tighter naval blockades in the Middle East raised energy supply concerns and initial jobless claims fell to a 57-year low. Goldman Sachs shed 2.1%, while Visa fell 0.5%. Comcast lost 6.8% after reporting a declined in profits, while RTX added 7.3% after beating expectations.
SPI down 50 - Oil up above $100 - Gold down 2%
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The ASX 200 rose 16 points to 8,839 (+0.2%) after a strong start was derailed by better-than-expected jobs data.
Banks were firm, with CBA climbing 0.4% and the Big Bank Basket up to $284.71 Elsewhere, financials eased back following the news from MQG that CEO Shemara Wikramanayake will step down in November to be replaced by Greg Ward. The stock fell 0.5% on the news. We also saw losses in the insurance sector, with QBE down 1.1% and SUN falling 1.9%. Once again, it was the industrials that came under pressure, with the tech space falling hard as US software stocks weakened. XRO dropped 5.0%, WTC fell 7.0%, and TNE also suffered. The All-Tech Index fell 2.9%, with 360 down 5.5% too. Industrials eased back, with TLS down 0.6%, while REA, CAR and SEK also fell. Retail stocks were weaker, led lower by WES. Utilities firmed, with ORG up 0.8%.
Resources were stronger again today, with BHP up 1.5% and FMG rising 1.0%. S32 had another good day, and we saw a bounce in lithium stocks, with LTR up 3.6% and PLS rising 1.9%. Gold miners were also slightly firmer as bullion managed to hold on to recent gains. Coal stocks were better, along with uranium names, with PDN the standout following broker upgrades, up 11.6%.
In corporate news, GDG had a cracker of a day, rising 37.1% after updating its funds under management. STO narrowed its production guidance to 99m to 105m barrels of oil equivalent. Elsewhere, SFR had a good day after reporting record quarterly revenue.
In economic news, the latest jobs data pointed to a resilient economy, with the unemployment rate holding at 4.4%, although most of the employment growth came from part-time jobs. The result is likely to keep pressure on the RBA to raise interest rates.
Asian markets were better, Nikkei 225 up 0.9, HK up 1.4% and China up 0.1% - Korea up 4.3%. US futures drifting lower - Dow down 44 and Nasdaq down 100. Oil firms. European futures off slightly. 
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US stocks closed lower on Wednesday ahead of the start of earnings season for mega-cap technology companies. The S&P 500 shed 0.1%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.5%, and the Dow Jones inched down. Software stocks came under pressure before Alphabet's (-1.5%) results, with Microsoft down 1.9% and Meta retreating 2.6%. The technology sector remained volatile as investors reassessed whether AI hyperscalers will continue expanding hardware spending. Tesla dropped % ahead of its earnings release. Most chipmakers rebounded from earlier losses, with Nvidia up 2.3%, Broadcom rising 2.7%, and AMD adding 1.4%. Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Iran escalated after Iranian drone attacks targeted CIA facilities in the Gulf. Oil prices extended gains, fueling inflation concerns and pushing yields higher. Financials traded mixed, with Visa down 0.7% while JPMorgan gained 0.9%. AT&T rose 3.5% after beating earnings estimates, lifting telecom stocks.
SPI up 72! Gold up - Oil up - MQG CEO to retire.
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The ASX 200 closed up 30 points to 8823 (0.3%), with resources back in favour and the gold sector shining. It seemed as though defensive stocks were sold to fund buying in the likes of BHP, which rose 2.5%, and RIO, up 2.5%. The gold miners had a good day, with NST rallying 3.5% and EVN up 4.3%, alongside solid gains across the sector. We also saw gains in the oil and gas space as crude prices headed higher, with WDS and STO both up more than 1%. Coal stocks also performed well, with YAL enjoying a strong session, as did NHC. Uranium stocks were in the green too, with PDN up 6.7% following its quarterly report on its Namibian operations.
Lithium stocks gained a little ground, but LYC fell 3.6% after a disappointing quarterly result highlighted higher costs. Meanwhile, industrials sold off, with the tech sector once again under pressure. XRO fell 2.6%, TNE dropped 2.3%, and NXT gave back some of yesterday's gains. REA, CAR, and SEK also fell, while the healthcare sector was led lower by CSL, down 2.8%. Industrials slipped, with WES down 2.1%, JBH off 1.5%, and BXB easing slightly.
The banking stocks were mostly unchanged, with insurers slipping slightly and the Big Bank Basket closing relatively flat at $283.03 (+0.4%). HUB rallied 4.9% following yesterday's upgrade. REITs also weakened, with GMG down 2.0%, CHC off 1.7%, and SGP falling 1.9%.
In corporate news, WES pulled the trigger on the expansion of its lithium project. RRL announced that a string of encouraging drill results would lead to further exploration, while LYC flagged increased costs associated with its expansion project in Malaysia.
There was nothing of note in local economic news.
Asian markets were weaker, Nikkei 225 up 0.1%, HK down 1.0% and China unchanged - Korea up 2.6%, well off highs.
US futures weaker - Dow down 40 and Nasdaq down 165. Oil firms. European markets set to fall 0.3%
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