Market Updates

The ASX 200 rose 56 points to 8,717 to finish the week on a strong note. Up 34 pts on the week. A solid rebound in most sectors after yesterday's fall. News that the Firmus float had been cancelled may have helped sentiment slightly.
The banking sector rose slightly, with CBA up 0.8% and MQG also having another good day, up 0.6%. The REITs were also doing well today, with GMG up 3.2% and CHC also having a good day, up 3.3%. Interest-rate-sensitive stocks in the retail space were better, with JBH up 2.1% and WES up 1.7%, with both WOW and COL rising too. The tech space was in a much better place today, with WTC rising 4.3% and XRO rising 3.5%. There were still some casualties, with WBT crashing 11.1% and MP1 also falling hard. The old-school platform stocks in REA, CAR, and SEK are also showing good, solid gains today.
In resources, we saw FMG ease 2.9%, but the gold miners were better across the board, with NST up1.5%, GMD up 4.0%, and VAU also doing well, up 3.6%. Lithium stocks slipped slightly, with PLS down 5.4%, but LYC recovered modestly. Oil and gas stocks were mixed, and uranium stocks once again on the nose. Some broker downgrades in the sector not helping DYL down 7.1% and BOE down 9.9%
In corporate news today, the big story was obviously Firmus and the fallout, to some, with MGH returning from a trading halt and falling 6.7%. We also saw serious volatility in EOS on the back of a big contract win in the Middle East. It finished down 4.3%. Not much other news around on the corporate front. In the economic space, Schroders now says the RBA's rate hiking cycle may finally have reached its peak.
10-year yields ease to 5.34%. US Futures drifting higher. 
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The Nasdaq Composite slid on Thursday as new details about OpenAI spooked investors, putting the artificial intelligence trade under pressure.
The tech-heavy Nasdaq was down 1.25% to close at 27,193.34, while the S&P 500 declined 0.47% to 7,765.36. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 51.77 points, or 0.1%, to end at 51,231.64.
Shares of key tech names came under pressure after OpenAI’s annualized revenue was revealed to be short of the amount previously signaled. Shares of Oracle were down more than 5%, while chipmakers such as Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices lost nearly 3% and almost 4%, respectively.
Adding to the downbeat sentiment, oil prices spiked also after President Donald Trump said he doesn’t want to make a deal with Iran to end the war, while the U.S. is reportedly preparing for “massive bombing” in the Middle East.
SPI up 18 - Gold up a little - Oil volatile - Firmus in the balance.
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The ASX 200 fell 67 points to 8,661. Rumours continued to swirl around the Firmus IPO and repricing due to valuation question marks. The banking sector was weaker today, with CBA down 1.5% and NAB down 1.6%. The Big Bank Basket fell 1.5% Also, we saw MQG succumb to gravity, falling 0.8%. Insurers were better on the back of higher bond yields, with QBE up 1.4% and IAG also doing well, up 2.2%. The rest of the financials eased back, although we did see gains for ASX, up 3.8%.
Rates were a little mixed, with GMG up 0.7%, but VCX down 0.4%. Industrials somewhat on the nose today, with interest-rate-sensitive stocks falling: BXB down 0.8%. We also saw some big falls in mining contractors: MND falling 3.2%, and NWH down 4.0%. MGH tumbled 22.4% on the back of a pessimistic outcome for the Firmus IPO. Retail stock mixed, with JBH up 0.5%, but WES falling slightly. Both WOW and COL gained, along with TLS, as defensive plays. Meanwhile, tech stocks were a little mixed, with WTC up 0.5%, but TNE slipping slightly. CDA also fell 1.4%.
Resources were back on the nose today on US dollar and yield moves. BHP falling 2.0%, RIO down 2.9%, and rare earths and lithium stocks falling, with PLS down X% and MIN down X%. Gold miners eased off, with NST down 1.4% and WGX down 2.5%. In the oil and gas space, both WDS and STO were better as the oil price rose, and uranium stocks gave back yesterday's gains following U.S. falls.
In corporate news today, we saw RMS out with their quarterly and FMG reporting a 6% decrease in first-quarter iron ore shipments. We also had falls in stocks that had data centre exposure on the Firmus issue. Nothing significant today on the economic front.
10-year yields steady at 5.38%. US Futures drifting lower. 
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U.S. equities fell on Wednesday as pressure continued to build in the bond market, pushing Treasury yields to levels not seen in more than two decades.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 341.41 points, or 0.66%, to close at 51,179.87, while the S&P 500 shed 0.22% to end at 7,801.77. The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.22% to settle at 27,538.69. 
Investors were spooked by the benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield reaching its highest level since April 2002 at 5.365% on Wednesday. The 30-year bond yield also hit its highest level since May 2002 at 5.732%.
SPI down 53 - Firmus being repriced? Demand has gone Softus! Resources to suffer today.
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The ASX 200 slipped a modest 8 points today to 8,728 in quiet trade. Banking stocks were generally easier, with CBA down 1.3% and WBC down 1.2%, and the Big Bank Basket falling slightly to $260.96. Insurers had a better day again, with QBE up 1.3% and IAG also doing well, up 0.9%. REITs were better too, with SCG up 0.9% and VCX up 1.3%. Healthcare once again a positive sector, with CSL up 1.9% and FPH up 1.0%. Meanwhile, in industrials, retail stocks gained, with WES up 0.6% and JBH up 0.1%. Tech stocks had a small positive day today, with WTC rising 0.6% and TNE also up slightly. The All-Tech index up 0.1% today.
Resources were mixed, with the big iron ore miners easing back, FMG down 2.4%, but gold miners perked up slightly, with NST up 1.9% and EVN up 2.5%. We also saw gains in lithium and rare earth stocks, with PLS up 1.8% and LYC up 1.6%. Not much happening in the oil and gas space, with WDS up 0.8%, but uranium stocks were better after the deal in the U.S. with Constellation Energy, with PDN up 2.5% and NXG up 4.3%.
In corporate news today, ARF had a good day following a deal for the Edge Early Learning business with GoodStart to acquire the centres. TWE is cutting 7% of its workforce, and CYC had a good day on reports that 7 Chinese medical bodies had published a recommendation on its lung imaging technology. TLX is also rising today after it said its first U.S. patients have been dosed with Pixclara.
Nothing locally on the economic front, and we do get Fed minutes tonight in the U.S.
10-year yields steady at 5.40%. US Futures drifting lower. 
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A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips.
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