Market Updates

The ASX 200 rose 44 points to 8,806, up 0.5%, after a slow start, with the banks finding their feet. For the week, the ASX 200 fell 38 pts. CBA rose 0.5% and ANZ gained 0.8%. The Big Bank Basket rose to $281.06 (0.6%). Other financials also firmed, with MQG up 0.9% and NWL rising 2.2%. ZIP rallied 2.0%. REITs were better, with GMG up 0.2% and CHC rising 2.2%. In the industrials, we saw some profit...

US stocks gained traction on Thursday amid gains for chip producers and an improvement in credit conditions. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% and the Nasdaq 100 gained 1.3%, while the Dow rose 200 points. Memory chip producers were sharply higher as markets reconsidered the speculative outlook of AI infrastructure manufacturers. These were magnified by the introduction of SK Hynix ADRs tomorrow, the worl...

The ASX 200 fell 23 points as, once again, resources came under pressure. BHP fell 1.1%, RIO was hit hard following a broker downgrade, down 3.3%, and FMG also lost ground. Gold miners were weaker despite gold holding relatively steady. NST fell 0.9%, while EVN down 1.7%. Elsewhere, lithium and rare earth stocks also drifted lower, with S32 down 3.5%. Meanwhile, in the oil and gas sector, both WDS...

US stock indices closed mixed on Wednesday as higher oil prices worsened the macroeconomic backdrop while chipmakers rebounded. The S&P 500 fell 0.3%, the Dow lost 577 points, while the Nasdaq 100 gained 0.3%. Treasury yields rose after President Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was "over" following renewed strikes, fueling concerns over energy-driven inflation. Those fears were re...

The ASX 200 fell another 19 points to 8785 (0.2%) as resources were once again under pressure. Well off the lows though of around 120 pts down. BHP fell 2.3% on potential strike action, RIO dropped 2.6% and FMG held up relatively well. Lithium plays remained depressed, with PLS down 3.3% and LTR falling 4.3%. Gold miners were also under pressure, although well off their lows, with NST down 1.7%, E...

US stock indices closed lower on Tuesday amid a selloff in chipmakers. The S&P 500 fell 0.4%, the Nasdaq 100 dropped 1.8%, and the Dow Jones lost 131 points, pulling back from a record high. Semiconductor stocks came under pressure as investors questioned whether AI hyperscalers can justify elevated infrastructure spending. Samsung's 19-fold surge in quarterly profit failed to support mar...

The ASX 200 fell 27 points to 8,804 (0.3%) as resources came under significant pressure following renewed kinetic action in the Gulf. Gold miners eased and the broader resources sector was weak. The big miners struggled, with BHP down1.9% and RIO falling 1.8%. Lithium stocks were well and truly under pressure, with PLS down 5.5%, MIN off 5.6% and even LYC slipping 6.4%. Gold miners also lost groun...

The S&P 500 gained 0.72% to end at 7,537.43, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.12% to 26,121.16 as markets started a new trading week following Friday’s U.S. Independence Day holiday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 155.84 points, or 0.29%, for a record close of 53,055.91. The 30-stock index also posted an intraday record in the session. Tech stocks rose broadly. The State Street...

The ASX 200 closed down 13 points at 8,831 (0.2%) after drifting from positive to negative throughout the day. The banks were a little sloppy, with WBC down 1.1% and the Big Bank Basket falling to $273.60 (-0.3%). The insurance sector also eased, while the rest of the financials were mixed. REITs also had a mixed session, with CHC down 0.7%, while GMG edged slightly higher. Industrials lacked dire...

US Markets closed Friday - Gold steady - SPI down 35 - GMD bids for VAU - Quarterlies continue. 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...

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US equity indices closed mixed on Thursday, as tech volatility gripped trading ahead of the holiday, despite easing concerns over rate hikes. The S&P 500 was flat and the Nasdaq 100 fell 0.8%. Chipmaker stocks fell for a second day as investors questioned whether AI optimism had pushed valuations beyond reasonable levels. Fresh developments included reports that OpenAI was in talks to sell a 5...

The ASX 200 rose just 2 points to 8725 after an early swoon. NAB jumped 3.8% on a broker upgrade, WBC followed, up 2.2%, and the Big Bank Basket rallied to close at $269.80 (+1.1%) Financials were mixed, although insurers fared better, with QBE up 0.5% and SUN rising 0.8%. REITs continued to flounder, with GMG down 0.3% and SCG off 0.8%. Industrials also showed weakness, with WES falling 4.0% as b...

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The ASX 200 dropped 56 points today to close at 8,723 (0.6%), with the banks suffering steep losses. CBA dropped 2.4%, and ANZ fell 2.5%, with the Big Bank Basket declining to $266.89 (-2.3%). Other financials were mixed, with MQG falling 1.2%, although HUB had a good day, rising 5.4%. REITs were again a little on the nose as distributions and higher bond yields continued to weigh on the sector. S...

US stock indexes closed higher on Tuesday, supported by strength in the technology sector and easing inflation risks. The S&P 500 gained 0.8%, while the Nasdaq 100 rose 1.7%, and the Dow Jones added 136 points to close at a record high of 52,319. Chipmakers extended their rebound as investors looked past recent concerns over stretched AI-related valuations, encouraged by strong guidance from s...

The ASX 200 finished the financial year on a lacklustre note, falling 45 points to 8779 (0.5%) as the banks gained and gold miners came under renewed pressure. The Big Bank Basket rose to $273.04 (0.4%) despite CBA holding firm. Other financials fared well too with ZIP up 3.5% and SUN rising 1.2%. REITs struggled as ex-dividend stocks weighed on the sector, with GMG down 3.0% and SCG off 1.5%. Ind...

US stocks closed sharply higher on Monday, with the S&P 500 rising 1.2%, the Nasdaq 100 surging 2.3%, and the Dow Jones gaining 307 points to finish at a fresh record high, as investors reassessed the AI trade following the recent selloff. Sentiment was also supported by easing tensions between the US and Iran over the weekend, with President Trump saying peace talks with Iran are set to resum...

The ASX 200 rose 59 points today to close at 8823 (0.7%), with the banks solid. CBA rose 1.0% and NAB gained 1.0%, with the Big Bank Basket up to $271.94 (0.8%). Other financials also had a good session, with NWL rising 3.1% and ZIP enjoying a strong day, up 8.7%, along with XYZ , up 4.9%. Industrials were also firm, with the retail sector performing well. JBH rose 2.2% and ALL also pushed higher....

Wall St ended near flat Friday in another mixed session. Dow Jones down 45 points. S&P 500 down 0.05%. Nasdaq down 0.24% (much better than futures yesterday indicated). Russell 2000 flat. Breadth positive - eight of eleven sectors higher, led by healthcare and consumer stocks. Volume well above average. VIX down 2.54%. For the week, the S&P 500 fell 1.95% and the Nasdaq lost 4.60% - two lo...

The ASX 200 played out a nil-all draw today, closing up just 16 points at 8,764 in a session of highs and lows. Some EOFY shenanigans were evident in a handful of stocks. The banks held firm, recovering some of yesterday's losses, with ANZ up 0.5% and the Big Bank Basket steady at $269.71 Insurers eased as bond yields steadied, with QBE down 0.2% and SUN off 0.7%. Other financials also slippe...

US equities finished mixed on Thursday, with the S&P 500 flat, the Nasdaq 100 falling 0.5%, and the Dow Jones up 0.1%. Investors reassessed their exposure to mega-cap tech stocks while also weighing encouraging economic data. Despite optimism surrounding semiconductors and AI demand, concerns over concentrated gains in a few hyperscale and software names weighed on broader indices. Micron rall...

The ASX 200 fell another 60 points to 8,749, down 0.7%. Once again, it was resources that bore the brunt of the selling, with the gold price testing $4,000 and heading below it, and gold miners slipping. NST down 3.3%, EVN down 3.8%, with the iron ore miners also under pressure today. RIO off 2.3%, FMG down 1.6%. Lithium stocks also fell away, with PLS down 5.0% and LTR also falling 7.4%. Copper s...

US equities closed mixed on Wednesday amid losses for heavyweight tech companies. The S&P 500 inched down 0.1% and the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.4%. Micron dropped 0.4% ahead of its earnings report due after the close, with its guidance set as the latest bellwether for memory demand. The move followed a 13% plunge in the previous session amid growing concerns that capital expenditure by AI companies m...

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