Market Updates

The ASX 200 rallied another 35 points to 8657 (0.4%) ahead of a US long weekend. Up 27 pts for the week. Banks pushed ahead, led by CBA up 0.9 %, and the Big Bank Basket to $275.57 (0.8%). Insurers slid as yields fell, NWL off 1.0% and GQG falling 2.2% as tech boomed. Industrials were mixed, TLS fell 1.5% as a broker downgraded the stock, REA continued lower, off 4.1%, as did CAR off 2.8%, with tech stocks also continuing to be pressured. XRO down 0.9% and WTC falling 1.4%, with the All-Tech Index up 0.4% Utilities were also weaker, ORG off 1.8% and APA falling 0.3%.
Resources were generally better, BHP rose 1.1% and RIO up another 1.7%, with S32 doing well, up 5.1% and lithium stocks rising, PLS up 2.9% as gold miners found some bargain hunters. NEM up 0.8% and EVN gaining 3.1%. NST continued to suffer, down 0.6%. Oil and gas mixed. In corporate news, uranium stocks were better, PDN up 5.9% and DYL rising on broker upgrades.
In corporate news, ARU entered a trading halt to raise another $350m at 26c. GYG jumped 9.6% as it announced plans to close the US business. APX jumped 9.4% on a trading update. TUA steady as the M1 deal was pronounced DOA. MYX won a small settlement against Cosette for the failed bid.
In economic news, the Japanese CPI came in below expectations.
Asian markets were better, with Japan up 2.8%, Hong Kong up 1.2%, China up 0.6%, and the Kospi up modestly. US futures were better, with the Dow up 155 and the Nasdaq up 150. European futures are opening around 0.5% lower. Oil up 2.0%. The US and UK are closed Monday.
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US stocks finished higher on Thursday after a volatile trading session, as renewed hopes for a potential US-Iran agreement to end the conflict pushed oil prices lower for a third consecutive day. The S&P 500 gained 0.2%, the Nasdaq edged up 0.1%, and the Dow Jones rose 276 points to close at a fresh record high. Reports indicated that Iran said the latest US proposal had partly narrowed the gap between the two sides, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio pointed to “some good signs” that a deal could be reached. The decline in oil prices supported broader market sentiment. Utilities led the gains, followed by consumer discretionary and materials, while consumer staples and energy lagged behind. Investors also digested earnings results from NVIDIA (-1.8%), which failed to impress the market. Meanwhile, Walmart fell more than 7% after warning that persistently higher fuel costs could weigh on its business. In contrast, Apple rose 0.9%, Amazon gained 1.3%, and Eli Lilly advanced 2.2%.
SPI up 35 - Long weekend in US - ARU cap raise
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The ASX 200 bounced back 125 points to 8,622 (1.5%) as the roller coaster continued this week. News from the White House on peace progress was the kicker, together with unemployment numbers coming in worse than expected at 4.5%. Pressure off the RBA. Both banks and resources fired today, with CBA up 0.9% and WBC rising 2.2%, with the Big Bank Basket rising to $273.39 (+1.4%). MQG jumped 1.7% and other financials also did well, with IFT up 4.6% and CGF rallying 1.9%. REITs were also back in demand as yields fell, with GMG up 2.8% and GPT rising 1.5%. Industrials firmed, with WES up 1.4% and CSL rising 1.6%, while RMD was also back in demand, up 1.2%. QAN jumped 3.1% on lower crude prices and VGN took off 9.3%, although volumes were small.
Retailers were better as yields cooled and unemployment may mean the RBA is on hold again. JBH up 3.4% and HVN up 2.1%. GYG had a strong day on a broker upgrade, up 13.0%. Tech stocks were mixed. CAT jumped 10.9% after numbers yesterday, with broker upgrades helping. TNE dipped 2.3%, WTC fell 0.5%, and the All-Tech Index was up 0.3%
In resources, BHP jumped 3.1% on copper exposure, RIO up 3.2%, and gold miners were back in favour. NST fell 2.1% as the CEO stepped down. EVN up 3.8% and GMD rising 0.7%. Lithium stocks were better, with LTR up 4.2% and MIN jumping 2.9%. Oil and gas stocks eased back, as did coal, but uranium stocks rose.
In corporate news, SGH fell 0.8% after a very in-depth investor day. IPX rose 5.2% after commissioning a 300-tonne axis SACMI in US. 
On the economic front, unemployment came in worse than economists expected at 4.5%. Morgan Stanley is predicting the largest house price correction in 40 years! The bank is talking a 10% fall. 
Asian markets better, Japan up 3.2%, Hong Kong down 0.7%, China down 0.6%. Kospi up 8.2%
US futures ease with Dow down 74, Nasdaq down 6. European futures opening around 1% lower. Oil up 1%.
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SPI Futures up 104 points. ASX to open higher. US Futures lower on Nvidia.
Wall St bounced sharply as oil fell and bond yields retreated from multi-year highs on hopes the Iran war is nearing resolution. S&P 500 up 1.1%. Dow Jones up 645 points (+1.3%), closing back above 50,000. Nasdaq up 1.5%. Volume above average. Every sector higher except Energy, down 2.6% on the oil drop. Consumer Discretionary the standout, up 2.5%. Semis roared back - Philadelphia Semiconductor Index up 4.5%.
Trump reports US-Iran negotiations are in their "final stages", which triggered a sharp drop in oil. WTI down 9.3% to $101.7. Brent down 5.1% to $105.4. Two Chinese oil tankers exited the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is enforcing a multi-tier approval process for passage involving vetting and sometimes fees, so the strait is not fully open, but traffic is improving. The pattern of the last two months holds - hope, then reality. Bond markets took the Iran comments at face value. US 10Y down 8.2bp to 4.59%, US 2Y down 6.3bp. 30Y pulling back from its highest since 2007. Dollar index down 0.2%.
Nvidia delivered Q2 revenue guidance of $91bn beating the $87bn consensus. Below the highest of estimates of $96bn. Stock down after hours on comments that competition is rising. The AI infrastructure demand story remains intact and data centre revenue continued to accelerate. Nvidia also announced an $80bn buyback and raised its quarterly dividend. The market broadly got the reassurance it needed, if not the blowout some had hoped for. Nvidia rose 1.3% in the regular session. Peers AMD up 8.1%, ASML up 6.2%, Intel up 7.4%.
Oil down - Yields fall - Gold up
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The ASX 200 gave up yesterday's gain and more, dropping another 108 points to 8,497 (1.3%) as the rout continues. Resources bore the brunt of the selling as inflation fears stoked higher rates and tore through commodities. BHP fell 2.3% and RIO off 1.5% with gold miners under pressure again, EVN down 4.9% and NEM falling 4.5%. Oil and gas firmed, but uranium stocks eased back, PDN down 4.5%. Lithium stocks found some friends with PLS up 1.9%. Industrials were also weak across the board as TLS fell 1.1% and REA dipped 2.0%. Tech stocks couldn't shrug off the negativity despite good results from CAT and broker upgrades to TNE. Healthcare drifted lower.
Banks were hit hard as one broker said conditions were tough, WBC fell 2.4% with ANZ off 2.1% and the Big Bank Basket falling to $269.72 (0.8%). Other financials also under pressure, MQG fell 2.0% and NWL and HUB dropped. Insurers also saw sellers, QBE off 1.0% and IAG down 0.4%. REITs fell as bond yields rose again. GMG down 2.1% and CHC falling 3.3%.
In corporate news, WJL tumbled 11.2% after earnings came in worse than expected and guidance was moved down. JHX fell 0.9% after lacklustre results too. EOS tumbled 10.3% as it raised funds at 800c and FLT fell 3.6% after a US$5m US strategic acquisition.
On the economic front, total wages and salaries paid by employers rose 1.4% to a record $110.6bn in March. National Australia Bank says weekly consumer spending patterns have stabilised with travel especially weak.
Asian markets fell, Japan down 1.6%, Hong Kong down 0.7%, China flat. Kospi down 2.8%.
US futures mixed with Dow down 31, Nasdaq up 32. European futures opening around 1% lower. Oil down slightly.
Nvidia tonight in the US. European futures opening around 0.6% lower.
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Disclaimer
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