Market Updates

The ASX 200 finished the week on a sour note as the index fell 61 points to 8621 (-0.7%), ending the week down 1.2%. Banks were ugly today after Morgan Stanley downgraded the sector outlook. The Big Bank Basket fell to $266.42 (1.5%), with CBA off 1.7% and WBC sliding 1.2%. Other financials held up better, with MQG unchanged, ASX up 1.5% and ZIP rising 1.7%. Insurers also found some friends again. REITs were better too, with CHC up 1.1% and SGP rising 1.1%. Industrials pushed higher, with WES up 0.4%, while WOW and COL also performed well. Retailers were mixed, with JBH up 1.0% and APE drifting lower. Healthcare stocks were back from the ICU. CSL had its biggest one-day rise since 2022, up 5.8% as the rotation into the sector gathered pace. Even RMD enjoyed a very positive session, gaining 4.3%. PME rose 4.0% and COH added 5.6%.
In the tech space, MP1 soared 15.2% after its capital raising, with Citi upgrading its price target by 41%. The All-Tech Index rose 0.7%, with CPU also trading higher.
Resources, however, remained in a world of pain as profit-taking continued in BHP and RIO, with FMG down 2.3%. Rare earths and critical minerals stocks also unwound as the AI trade ran out of steam and copper prices fell. LYC dropped 2.9%, MIN fell 5.1% and SFR lost 1.2%. Gold miners drifted lower once again, with NST down 2.5% and NEM off 1.2%. Energy stocks were weaker, with WDS falling 1.3% and STO down 0.6%, while coal stocks slipped and uranium stocks found some nervous support.
In corporate news, NHF rose 2.5% on the sale of an insurance business. RSG fell hard following its production report, while AGI rallied 16.8% after two directors resigned.
Asian markets mixed. Japan down 1.0%, Hong Kong down 1.0%, and China down 0.7%. South Korea eases back around 1.6%
US futures: Dow up 8 and Nasdaq down 280. Oil unchanged. NFP tonight.
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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.
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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
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The ASX 200 fell 100 points to close at 8686 _1.1%), with losses across the board. Banks held up better, with CBA down 0.6%, and WBC the worst of the bunch, down 1.7%, with MQG also falling 1.1%. The Big Bank Basket dropped to $270.46 (-1.8%). Insurers were better as bond yields rose, with QBE up 1.2% and the rest of the financials losing ground. Tech stocks were struggling today, with XRO falling back to earth by 4.2% and the All-Tech Index falling 1.4% as profit-taking moved in after the recent bounce. In the industrials, we saw TLS fall 2.9%, although defensive stocks bucked the downtrend, with WOW and COL both positive, along with utilities ORG and APA. Healthcare stocks were showing some signs of life, with RMD finding a bottom, at least temporarily, up 2.6%, and CSL up 0.4%. 
The real damage, though, today was done in the resource sector, as the iron ore price came under pressure and profit-takers moved into the iron ore stocks, with BHP down 3.3%, RIO down 3.3%, and FMG down 4.1%. Elsewhere in the gold space, we saw selling again in NST, off 6.1%, and EVN falling 3.0%, with lithium and rare earth stocks all under pressure. PLS dropped 4.5%. Big losers today as well were the big winners yesterday in the uranium sector, with PDN falling 8.2% and DYL down 5.2%. The oil and gas space was modestly higher, with both Woodside and Santos rising, together with coal stocks, with WHC rising 3.0%.
In corporate news today, PME secured a five-year renewal in the U.S. TWE had a very good day as it presented to investors with no downgrades and some optimistic outlook statements. IPX fell 4.6% after its DFS study for its Critical Minerals project in Tennessee.
Nothing significant on the economic front, although we did have some international goods trade data out, showing exports increased 7.2%, driven by metal ores and minerals.
Asian markets mixed. Japan down 1.5%, Hong Kong down 1.4%, and China down 0.6%. South Korea eases back around 1.6%
US futures: Dow up 26 and Nasdaq down 151. 
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Stocks fell on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 snapping a nine-day win streak, as oil prices and Treasury yields moved higher amid worries the U.S.-Iran conflict could keep lifting inflation.
The 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average pulled back 620.72 points, or 1.21%, to end at 50,687.07. The broad market S&P 500 fell 0.74% to end at 7,553.68, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.89% to 26,853.98.
Oil prices rose following the U.S. and Iran launching new strikes. West Texas Intermediate futures rose 2.41% to settle at $96.02 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 1.89% to settle at $97.81 per barrel.
SPI down 75 - Commodities fall - Gold down - Iron ore eases
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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
—
Disclaimer
This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.

The ASX 200 jumped 61 points after a slow start to 8756, with GDP coming in a little light, giving the RBA room to hold rates. Banks rebounded, with CBA up 1.1% and ANZ doing well, up 1.9%, as the Big Bank Basket rose to $275.51 (+1.1%). Other financials were a little mixed, GQG fell 1.4%, AMP slid 2.0% and HUB fell 0.9%. Insurers were steady as she goes.
Industrials firmed in places, with WES down 0.2 %, while WOW and COL did better. Healthcare remains in ICU, with CSL falling another 0.4% and RMD down 0.7%. Tech stocks were under pressure after a great run in recent days, with XRO down 3.5% and WTC falling 2.1%, while the All Tech Basket down 0.7%.
Resources, and especially copper stocks, were the stars of the show again. BHP hit new records, up 2.4%, and RIO gained 1.6%. Rare earths got a boost, with LYC up 2.8% and ARU gaining %. Uranium stocks fired up on some Urenco news from the US, with PDN up 11.5% and BOE gaining 7.6% as the shorts ran for cover. STO had a good day too, while WDS was flat.
In corporate news, SLC jumped 0.3% on an upgrade to earnings, MP1 entered a trading halt pending a large capital raising, ALD rallied 3.4% on watchdog approvals and INA soared 5.4% on earnings confirmation. TLC lowered guidance and slipped 1.5%. In economic news, GDP came in a little light at 0.3% for the quarter and 2.6% for the year, giving the RBA a good excuse to stay pat.
Asian markets mixed. Japan up 2.8%, Hong Kong down 1.7%, and China up 1.6%. South Korea closed for local elections.
US futures: Dow down 32 and Nasdaq down 13. Oil up 1.0%. Surprising given the hostilities in the Gulf.
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
—
Disclaimer
This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.