Market Updates

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A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips.
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This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.

US stocks closed sharply higher on Thursday, with the S&P 500 rising 1.8%, the Nasdaq gaining 2.5%, and the Dow Jones climbing 930 points. Investor sentiment improved amid a pullback in oil prices after President Trump cancelled strikes against Iran after earlier threatening "very hard" attacks tonight. He also claimed a deal had been agreed in principle by several allies in the Middle East, including Israel, without elaborating. Further support came from a rally in technology shares as investors positioned themselves ahead of SpaceX's expected IPO tomorrow. Micron and AMD soared 11% and 8%, respectively, while Lam Research added 12.7% and Intel jumped over 10% after being upgraded by BofA on soaring CPU orders. On the other hand, Oracle slipped nearly 9% as investors focused on a cloud revenue miss and rising AI infrastructure costs despite an earnings beat. On the data front, PPI data pointed to accelerating prices in May, consolidating bets that the Fed will raise rates this year.
SPI jumps 1436 - Gold up 3% plus...
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. 
If you'd like to go further: 
Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today
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Join Marcus Today
Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off
http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offer 
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 staged a remarkable comeback to finish down only 20 points at 8633 (-0.2%) after falling nearly 100 points in early trade. A stronger US futures market helped, as did a calming in the oil price and the absence of any collapse in Korea.
Once again, though, we saw sector rotation, with the banks still under pressure. CBA fell 2.4%, WBC dropped 2.6%, and MQG eased 0.7%. The Big Bank Basket fell to $260.43 (-2.3%). Other financials performed slightly better, and insurers continued to do well, with QBE the star of the show, up 3.7%. REITs also gained, with CHC up 2.8% and SGP rising 3.3%. Industrials were a mixed bag. The rally in WES continues, and retail stocks held firm, with TLS up 0.4% and both WOW and COL continuing their strong winning streaks.
Technology was once again very much on the nose, with tax-loss selling and ongoing pessimism surrounding SaaS business models. XRO fell 3.6%, WTC dropped 2.8%, and NXT was hit hard as well. Healthcare was a mixed bag of lollies, with CSL continuing to push higher, gaining another 4.2%. However, RMD fell 0.9%, while SIG continued to drift lower on concerns about a UK expansion push.
Meanwhile, resources recovered some poise, although the move lacked conviction. BHP rose 1.0%, and some lithium names improved, with PLS rising alongside LTR, which enjoyed a strong day, up 4.2%. Gold stocks also found some support, with EVN up 2.1% and RMS also edging higher. Oil and gas stocks were stronger, with WDS up 1.6% and STO jumping 2.0%. While coal stocks recovered, uranium stocks continued to struggle.
In corporate news, LLC rose 4.6% following the appointment of a new CEO and the maintenance of guidance between 28 cents and 34 cents. NST fell slightly as Elliott Investment Management called for further board changes. SXL dropped 4.4% after the company downgraded its full-year earnings outlook and announced 300 job cuts. AAI fell 8.3% following a warning about its Middle East operations.
In economic news, the CBA said the RBA is likely to keep rates on hold for the first time this year. Australian wages rose 0.8% in May, with consistent growth recorded over the last 18 months.
Asian markets weaker. Japan flat, Hong Kong down 1.0%, and China down 0.7%. South Korea fell slightly.
US futures: Dow up 88 and Nasdaq up 150. Oil up 1.0%. Europe opening easier. ECB expected to hike rates today.
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. 
If you'd like to go further: 
Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today
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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.

U.S. equities fell on Wednesday after President Donald Trump signaled that negotiations with Iran were taking “too long” and threatened more action.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 953.33 points, or 1.87%, to 49,918.78. The S&P 500 lost 1.62% to end at 7,266.99, and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.98% to settle at 25,169.50.
The major averages dropped after Trump pledged more Iran attacks, saying that “we’re going to be attacking them very hard.” He wrote early Wednesday that Iran has “taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!”
Oil prices rose after Trump’s threats. West Texas Intermediate crude futures settled up 2.07% to $90.03 a barrel, while Brent crude advanced 1.8% to settle at $93.10. 
SPI down 65 - Oil up on hostilities - Gold down - US Futures down after hours.
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. 
If you'd like to go further: 
Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today
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Join Marcus Today
Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off
http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offer 
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 showed solid gains to finish up 49 points at 8,653. Once again, it was the tale of two cities, with the best of times and the worst of times. The banks held steady, with CBA down 0.2%, and WBC doing well, up 2.0%. Insurers also pushed higher, led by QBE up 2.4%, and even ASX up 0.6%, with the Big Bank Basket at $266.54. Elsewhere, industrials were once again stronger, with defensive stocks taking the bull by the horns. WES rose 4.3%, TLS rose 2.0%, and both the supermarket stocks WOW and COL did very well, building on recent gains in the healthcare space. CSL was also strong as it looks to have turned the corner, up 3.5%, with SHL also firm, although SIG fell 5.5% on the back of media speculation that it was looking at buying the Boots chemist chain in the UK. REITs were positive, with GMG up 1.6%, CHC up 1.8%, and other industrials faring okay. Retail also had a good bounce, with JBH up 3.5% and ALL up 2.2%. Technology stocks were still very much in the doghouse, with XRO down 2.0%, TNE down 2.3%, and NXT down 4.1%. Utilities firmed in this environment, and the All-Tech Index fell 1.8%.
Meanwhile, resources were once again on the nose, with BHP up 0.2%, and RIO and FMG also falling as iron ore came under pressure. Lithium stocks fell, PLS down 1.7%, and LTR falling a big 8.0%, with MIN also suffering heavy losses. The gold sector was also slammed again as the gold price fell out of bed, with NST down 3.5%, EVN falling 5.0%, and RMS also having a bad day, down 3.8%. Over in the energy space, Woodside slipped slightly, and Santos pushed ahead somewhat, with coal stocks under pressure, WHC down 4.4%, and uranium stocks still on the nose.
In corporate news, SDF rose 36.2% after receiving a $6.00 non-binding indicative offer. IGO fell hard after a fire broke out at the Chemical Grade Plant 3 facility at Greenbushes. WES had a good investor day reaction, saying it would drive growth through AI and data monetisation. Citi downgraded banks following the budget changes. In economic news, the ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence rose for the second consecutive week, lifting two points to 70.8.
Asian markets weaker. Japan down 1.9% Hong Kong down 0.9%, and China down 1.1%. South Korea falls again.
US futures: Dow down 78 and Nasdaq down 132. Oil down 1.5%. Europe opening easier. 
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. 
If you'd like to go further: 
Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today
http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcast 
Join Marcus Today
Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off
http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offer 
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.