Market Updates

The ASX 200 clawed back early losses to close down 8 on the day at 9,264 points (0.1%) . Up 3.2% for the week. It was a mixed picture across the market as investors waited for the US non-farm payrolls ( NFP ) report tonight and watched for further developments in the Middle East. The banks slipped back, with CBA down 1.0% and WBC down 1.6%, while MQG also eased after recently hitting record highs,...

US stock indices closed lower on Thursday as a rebound in energy prices revived concerns that the Fed could raise interest rates next month. The S&P 500 fell 0.2%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.4%, and the Dow shed 464 points. Yields rose alongside wholesale fuel prices as investors reassessed the prospects for restoring shipping through Hormuz. Reports indicated that Iran plans to bar US and Israeli...

The ASX 200 put in another solid day, rising 44 points to 9,272 (0.5%), as the banks and gold stocks shone. We did see higher levels earlier in the session, but some of the enthusiasm was sapped by a fall in the Kospi , while BHP and RIO finished slightly mixed. CBA rose 0.9% and NAB gained 0.4%, with financials generally firmer. The Big Bank Basket rose to $299.21 (+0.6%) Insurers slipped, howeve...

US stocks closed near record levels on Wednesday as an improving macroeconomic backdrop and strong corporate earnings supported sentiment. The S&P 500 inched down 0.2%, closing near yesterday's record. while the Dow added 263 points to reach a record 54,349. Crude oil prices extended their decline after Iran said it had reached an agreement with Oman on a proposed shipping route through t...

The ASX 200 climbed to a record high today, up 79 pts to 9225 (0.9%) as buyers returned to the resources sector. The rally was led by BHP , up 3.3%, and RIO , up 2.3%. We also saw strong buying in LYC , which gained 4.8%, while the gold sector rallied across the board as the bullion price pushed higher on hopes of a resolution to the Iran conflict. NST rose 5.5%, EVN gained 6.0%, and BSL also fini...

US stocks closed sharply higher on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones reaching fresh record highs, supported by strong corporate earnings and lower oil prices amid optimism that the US and Iran could reach an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The S&P 500 rose 1.8% to 7,737, the Dow gained 907 points to 54,086, and the Nasdaq 100 jumped 3.3%. Among individual stocks, Palantir s...

The ASX 200 climbed to a five-month high, rising 127 points to 9,146 (1.4%) , as the banking sector took off once again. CBA rose 1.6% and NAB gained 3.0%, with the Big Bank Basket climbing to $300.56 (+1.4%). MQG added 3.1%, while other financials also performed well, with ASX up 2.0% and IFT rising 1.3%. Industrials also enjoyed a strong session, with SGH up 2.5% and BXB gaining 1.9%. The health...

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The ASX 200 closed up 43 points at 9,020 , as promising news from the Middle East over the weekend encouraged buyers back into the market. Stronger US futures helped sentiment, while a fall in the oil price added to the optimism. The banking sector shrugged off early losses, with NAB up 0.7% and WBC up 0.8%. Financials were generally firmer, with MQG edging 0.8% higher and the insurers also finish...

Wall St rose on Friday night, closing out one of the wildest weeks of the AI boom with a decisive snapback. Dow Jones up 277 points. S&P 500 up 0.70%. Nasdaq up 1.00%. Russell 2000 down 0.50%. VIX down 6.44%. ASX set to fall on Monday. SPI futures down 85 points . That was before US-Iran talks - Oil fell hard - FPR bid. Marcus Today – Daily Market Insights Marcus Today provides clear, practica...

The ASX 200 closed up a mere 9 points at 8,978 (0.1%), as a solid start gave way to caution ahead of the weekend. There was a bounce today in some of the oversold small and mid-cap stocks as the banks eased back, with CBA down 0.4% and ANZ down 0.5%, and the Big Bank Basket falling to $294.04 (0.5%). Financials were slightly firmer, with MQG leading the charge, up 1.2%. Other financials also bounc...

US stock indices closed higher on Thursday, rebounding from the previous session's losses as chipmakers rallied and investors assessed earnings. The S&P 500 gained 1.7%, the Nasdaq jumped 3.4%, and the Dow added 614 points. Microsoft surged 15.5% after reporting 43% cloud revenue growth, its strongest since 2022, while keeping capital expenditure guidance broadly in line with expectations...

The ASX 200 gave back 71 points to 8,968 (-0.8%) as profit-taking set in across the board. Banks were mixed, with CBA and ANZ down slightly, while NAB and WBC edged higher. MQG , though, fell 1.5% after US investment banks weakened overnight, and financials generally were softer, with QBE down 0.9% and IFT off 1.7%. REITs also came under pressure, with SCG down 1.3% and VCX falling 1.5%. In the in...

US stock indices closed lower on Wednesday as investors following the Federal Reserve's policy decision and another selloff in chipmakers ahead of major tech earnings. The S&P 500 fell 1.5%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 2.1%, and the Dow shed 1,153 points. Microsoft shed 0.7% while Meta fell 1.3% ahead of their earnings reports after the bell, which investors are watching for signals on AI infrast...

The ASX 200 put in another solid performance, rising 91 points to 9039 , as iron ore results cheered the resource sector and industrials continued to push higher. The market also took comfort from the latest CPI reading, which came in below expectations and should ease some of the pressure on the RBA to raise rates on 11 August . The banks gave back some early gains, the Big Bank Basket at $295.53...

US equity indices closed mixed on Tuesday as chipmakers extended their selloff, while earnings and falling oil prices supported investors' sentiment. The S&P 500 gained 0.2% and the Dow Jones rose 537 points while the Nasdaq 100 fell 1%. Concerns over slowing AI infrastructure spending and the circular nature of data center investment weighed on compute and memory chipmakers. Micron slump...

The ASX 200 shrugged off early losses to close 54 points higher at 8948 (0.6%), with the banks proving resilient yet again. CBA rose 1.5% and NAB gained 0.7%, taking the Big Bank Basket to $295.23 (+1.3%) Other financials also had a better day, with HUB up 1.8% and ASX rising 1.5%. REITs also performed well, with GMG up 0.2% and SGP gaining 2.7%. Industrials were firm, led by a rebound in the tech...

US stock indices closed mixed on Monday as chipmakers extended their selloff ahead of this week's Fed decision and a busy slate of economic data and corporate earnings. The S&P 500 ended little changed, the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.3%, while the Dow gained 263 points. Nvidia fell 5% after announcing a $500 billion AI memory chip supply agreement with SK Hynix. Separately, the company guaranteed...

The ASX 200 started the week on a strong note, up 122 points to 8,894 +1.4%), as most sectors of the market rallied hard, with the exception of oil and gas, as Trump's threat of a massive attack on Iran was wound back and US futures rallied. The banking sector was once again solid, with CBA up 1.2% and ANZ up 1.2%, with the Big Bank Basket at $291.58 (+1.2%). MQG also rallied again, and other...

Wall St ended mixed Friday, off best levels, capping a second straight week of declines. Dow Jones up 236 points. S&P 500 flat. Nasdaq down 0.64%. Russell 2000 down 0.35%. Breadth positive by more than 2:1, with equal-weight outperforming the cap-weighted index by ~80bp. VIX down 0.64%. It was Big Chips turn to face the selling pressure while the Mag7 were not able to bounce as a whole. ASX se...

The ASX 200 fell 67 points to 8,772 , leaving the market down around 25 points for the week. Once again, we saw money flowing out of resources, industrials and the technology sector, and back into the relative safety of the banking sector. The Big Bank Basket rose to $288.03 (+1.2%). CBA rose 1.0% and NAB gained 1.5% , while insurers also benefited from higher bond yields, with QBE up 1.4% . MQG c...

US stocks closed lower on Thursday amid deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop and renewed doubts over AI spending. The S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 1.9%, and the Dow Jones shed 507 points. Communication services and consumer discretionary were by far the worst performing sectors while tech was also under pressure. Despite solid earnings, Alphabet fell 6.9% after raising its capital...

The ASX 200 rose 16 points to 8,839 (+0.2%) after a strong start was derailed by better-than-expected jobs data. Banks were firm, with CBA climbing 0.4% and the Big Bank Basket up to $ 284.71 Elsewhere, financials eased back following the news from MQG that CEO Shemara Wikramanayake will step down in November to be replaced by Greg Ward. The stock fell 0.5% on the news. We also saw losses in the i...

US stocks closed lower on Wednesday ahead of the start of earnings season for mega-cap technology companies. The S&P 500 shed 0.1%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.5%, and the Dow Jones inched down. Software stocks came under pressure before Alphabet's (-1.5%) results, with Microsoft down 1.9% and Meta retreating 2.6%. The technology sector remained volatile as investors reassessed whether AI hyper...

The ASX 200 closed up 30 points to 8823 (0.3%), with resources back in favour and the gold sector shining. It seemed as though defensive stocks were sold to fund buying in the likes of BHP , which rose 2.5%, and RIO , up 2.5%. The gold miners had a good day, with NST rallying 3.5% and EVN up 4.3%, alongside solid gains across the sector. We also saw gains in the oil and gas space as crude prices h...