Market Updates

The ASX 200 lived up to its new Friday ‘free fall’ and dropped 126 points to 8925 (1.4%). Friday the 13th. Banks gave back some ground today as WBC delivered numbers in line. The Big Bank Basket drooped to $303.62(-1.0%). ANZ continued 1.3% higher on broker upgrades. Financials were sold down again, HUB off 4.1% and MQG falling 0.9% with GQG bucking the trend on better-than-expected results. ZIP fell hard as a tech stock should, down 8.5%. Insurers eased back. IAG the exception after results, up 1.0%. REITs were slightly firmer, GMG rallied 2.4% and SCG up 1.6%. Healthcare back in A&E with RMD down another % and CSL slipping 1.4%. COH fell 18.9% on results hitting deaf ears, as it downgraded guidance. Industrials were a sea of red, SGH off 2.7%, QAN down 1.2% and ALL down 5.0%. Utilities found friends on defensive buying. Technology stocks once again sold back into the bronze age, WTC down 10.4% and XRO falling 4.5%. The All-Tech Index losing another 4.7%.
Resources were also a sea of red, gold miners slid with NST off 3.5% and EVN giving 3.7% back. BHP down 1.8% on lower copper pricing, RIO holding firm and lithium stocks depressed. Energy stocks needing a boost, WDS down 2.1% and uranium seeing some fallout.
In corporate news, the bid for WJL came undone, the stock dropping 25.2%. NCK punished on LFL sales miss, down 22.2% %, ASB sunk 22.8% after some double counting revealed after the close last night.
In economic news, CBA says the neutral cash rate is now 3.6%. Pretty much the same as inflation, so that is easy to work out then. Australian households were in spending mode over summer. The latest CommBank Household Spending Insights Index shows spending rose 0.5%in January, marking 16 consecutive months of growth.
Standard Chartered warned of further bitcoin weakness and the largest US crypto exchange swung to a loss in the fourth quarter.
US futures Dow down 20 and Nasdaq down 10.
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Stocks dropped on Thursday as investors began to worry about the negative side of the artificial intelligence buildout, which threatens to disrupt the business models of whole industries and raise unemployment.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 669.42 points, or 1.34%, to end at 49,451.98. The index was led lower by Cisco Systems, which slid 12% after the maker of networking hardware such as switches and routers issued disappointing guidance for the current quarter. The S&P 500 dropped 1.57% and closed at 6,832.76, while the Nasdaq Composite lost 2.03% and settled at 22,597.15.
Apple dropped 5% on Siri delays – SPI down 78 – COH and WBC results.
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The ASX 200 missed it by this much. Closed up 29 points to close at 9044 (0.3%). Banks were once again the stars of the show as the ANZ result kicked it higher, up 8.5% with the Big Bank Basket up to $306.63 (+4.8%) a new record close. Other financials were sold down hard as AMP results bombed with investors, the stock falling 26.7%, ZIP dipped 5.8% and CGF fell 6.0%. Insurers also under pressure again, QBE down 2.0% and MPL falling 2.2%. Industrials also fell in a heap, are we really at record highs? ALL down 3.9% and JBH losing another 1.0% with REITs under pressure again, GMG down 1.7% and SCG off 5.3%. ‘Old Skool’ platforms, again in the doghouse, REA down 3.3% and CAR hitting a speed bump off 5.3%. Tech stocks were horrible again. It continues to cascade lower, the All-Tech Index down another 6.7% with WTC falling 6.6%, XRO heading that way, down 8.4% and TNE off 6.9%. Healthcare checked into A&E as CSL fell another 6.9% with RMD dropping 2.6% and PME being sold down 23.9% on disappointing numbers.
In resources, gold miners mixed, lithium stocks better, PLS up 3.8% and MIN pushing 1.4% higher. BHP and RIO doing well on copper prices, uranium struggling, LOT down 7.2% and PDN up 0.7% on better results.
In corporate news, TPW were smashed down 32.6% on disappointing numbers and increased discounting. AMP dropped and ASX fell 1.7% after its better-than-expected revenue, wiped out by expenses. BRG saw record EBITDA and popped 1.7% higher.
On the economic front, Michele Bullock got a grilling from one Senator.
US futures Dow up 157 points and Nasdaq up 46.
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US shares largely trod water, with the S&P 500 not moving either way. Bond yields rose as the US labour market data came out stronger than expected. That might mean the Fed isn’t as quick to cut rates to support jobs. Resources showed some spark, but it’s more consolidating the recent rally than further price appreciation. Perhaps the exception is oil, with energy being the best performer in the S&P500. Oil also helped Euro stocks hit record highs. OPEC released its monthly report this week. The group paused production hikes in the first quarter of 2026 but meets on March 1 to decide whether they should resume in April. OPEC says travel and road transport are helping to drive demand. The weaker US dollar also helps.
We have a multiple of companies releasing their updates today: ANZ, AMP, IAG, TPW, ASX, ORA, ORG, PME, BRG, NST and S32.
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Marcus Today – Daily Market Insights
Marcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.
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Principles – How We Think About Investing
A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips.
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Disclaimer
This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.

The ASX 200 soared today as CBA delivered in spades, the index rising 147 points to 9015 (+1.7%). How things have changed around since ‘shambolic’ Friday last week. Up over 300 points since then! CBA beat forecasts and drove the banking sector higher. Not often that you see a 6.8% rise in CBA. NAB up 3.4% and the Big Bank Basket up to $292.52 (+5%). Insurers bounced back a little, SUN up 0.6% and MQG jumped 2.7% on broker comments. REITs under a little pressure with GMG down 1.0% and SCG off 0.5%. Healthcare in ICU today as CSL managed to top its shambolic CEO news with a bad set of numbers and dropped 4.6%. Some bargain hunters saving it from a worse fate. RMD dropped 4.7% as it went Ex-Dividend. Industrials were better, retail rose, JBH up 1.3% and WES up 1.0% with SGH also up 3.6% on better than expected numbers. Utilities better and ABB soared 14.8% on its deal with AGL. JHX also beat expectations and rose 10.9%.
In resource land, BHP up 1.6% and FMG doing well, up 2.3%. Gold miners started slow but ended up, EVN produced a good set of numbers and strong cash generation. Up 8.9%. NEM rose 2.4% and SBM up 10.5%.  Lithium stocks improved slightly and uranium stocks off the bottom. Rare earths bounced, three-year highs in the underlying starting to feed into the sentiment. 
In corporate news, results featured strongly, ASX CEO has quit, DMP has a new pizzaiolo. GQG slipped again on fresh FUM.
On the economic front, all eyes on US NFP, here we saw first home buyers loans jump the most since 2023!
US futures Dow up 141 and Nasdaq up 111.
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Marcus Today – Daily Market Insights
Marcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.
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MT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio
A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing.
http://bit.ly/mt20-podcast
Principles – How We Think About Investing
A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips.
http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast
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Disclaimer
This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.