Market Updates

The ASX 200 opened firm, slipped then rallied off lows as US futures stayed positive. We closed down only 4 points to 9022. Banks made a comeback, NAB up 1.0% with WBC up 1.5% and the Big Bank Basket up to $309.01 (0.3%). Financials elsewhere were smacked down on private equity fears, AI concerns and bears playing havoc post results. MQG dropped 3.6% on PE concerns, RPL rallied hard on better resu...

Wall Street was down overnight, and sharply too. The Nasdaq and S&P500 both fell over 1%, and the Russell 2000 dropped 1.6%. The VIX rose 10% as AI disruption, tariffs and Iran suck the confidence out of investors and blur the outlook. US financials were hit hard after a report modelled potential AI disruption to the finance industry. The sector was the worst in the S&P500 , falling 3.5%....

The ASX 200 gave back 55 points to 9026 (0.6%). US futures turned negative early and banks slid, the Big Bank Basket down to $308.21 (-1.0%). MQG also down 2.4% on concerns with private equity and fund managers. Financials generally were weaker across the board, REITs slumped too, GMG down 3.6% and VCX off 3.1% with industrials sliding. WES down 1.7%, REA off 1.8% with retail falling, JBH off 1.9%...

Wall Street finished higher for the last session as the market received the Supreme Court ruling over Trump’s tariffs and liked it. The Nasdaq rose 0.9% and the S&P500 0.7%, with European stocks positive too. The Financial Times says investors are pouring record sums into the eurozone to diversify away from the USA . Suddenly Europe’s lack of tech titans is looking like a shelter away from the...

The ASX 200 lost 5 points to 9081 for its first down day this week. No Freaky Friday drop! For the week, the index is up 1.8%. Banks leading the way again, the Big Bank Basket up to $311.23 (+0.9%). MQG fell 1.6% with other financials slipping again, ZIP eased 3.8% after an early rally. Insurers though firmed on a better set of numbers from QBE , up 7.1% and SUN up 1.8%.  REITs were slightly firme...

Stocks fell on Thursday, leaving the S&P 500 near the flatline for the year, as investors shifted away from financials and monitored simmering tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 267.50 points, or 0.54%, settling at 49,395.16. The broad-based S&P 500 slipped 0.28% and ended at 6,861.89. The Nasdaq Composite lost 0.31% and closed at 22,682.73.  With Thu...

The ASX 200 kicked higher again. Four days in a row, up 79 to 9086 (0.9%). Up nearly 2% this week. Off record highs as jobs data provides reasons for the RBA to raise rates again. Super Thursday and results dominated, some good, some terrible. Banks firmed yet again, certainty. The Big Bank Basket rose to $308.43 (+1.4%). NAB up 2.4% and WBC up 2.7%. MQG also had a good day up 1.6% with insurers b...

The S&P 500 moved higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in key technology names, as traders weighed the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting. The broad-based index climbed 0.56% to end at 6,881.31, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.78% to close at 22,753.63. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 129.47 points, or 0.26%, and settled at 49,662.66....

The ASX 200 kicked higher again. Three days in a row, up 48 to 9007 (0.5%) despite CBA going ex-dividend. Record high back in sight. NAB was the standout today on Q1 results beating expectations, up 4.1%. The Big Bank Basket up to $304.05 (0.2%), financials kicked higher too, MQG up 0.6% and private health insurers roared ahead on government price changes. MPL up 6.0% and NHF up 5.0%. ZIP jumped 8...

Wobbly, uncertain, but they held on. That was the tale of US stocks last night. They opened down but the Nasdaq finished 0.1% higher and S&P 500 much the same. Apple recovered 3% but most of big tech and the chip stocks didn’t do all that much. US financials were positive and mining stocks were mixed. The rotation continues away from AI and tech. Gold and copper were both down, leading their s...

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The US bond and stock markets were closed Monday for Presidents’ Day . That means we have no Wall Street lead for today’s ASX. SPI futures are up 15 points and suggest the ASX will open modestly higher . The news of the day will be dominated by the release of BHP’s latest results. The market will be looking for further clarity around their current negotiations around iron ore pricing with China. C...

The ASX 200 finished up 20 to 8937 (0.2%) despite the big miners falling on lower iron ore prices.  Banks pushed up slightly, NAB down 1.0% and ANZ off 3.1% with the Big Bank Basket up to $304.06 (%). Other financials were mixed, NWL rallied 3.7% and GQG up 5.5% with ZIP forging ahead up 5.5%. MQG rose 0.4%. Insurers better. Industrials were solid, WES up 1.2% with retail better as JBH rose 7.5% o...

It was a modest night of action on Friday as far as Wall Street is concerned. The S&P500 and the Nasdaq were essentially flat while the Russell 2000 outperformed, up 1%. Small caps keep showing more life than the big caps. Inflation data for January increased less than expected thanks to cheap “gas” and moderating housing rents. In the 12 months through to January, the CPI increased 2.4% . The...

The ASX 200 lived up to its new Friday ‘free fall’ and dropped 126 points to 8925 (1.4%). Friday the 13th. Banks gave back some ground today as WBC delivered numbers in line. The Big Bank Basket drooped to $303.62(-1.0%). ANZ continued 1.3% higher on broker upgrades. Financials were sold down again, HUB off 4.1% and MQG falling 0.9% with GQG bucking the trend on better-than-expected results. ZIP f...

Stocks dropped on Thursday as investors began to worry about the negative side of the artificial intelligence buildout, which threatens to disrupt the business models of whole industries and raise unemployment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 669.42 points, or 1.34%, to end at 49,451.98. The index was led lower by Cisco Systems, which slid 12% after the maker of networking hardware such as s...

The ASX 200 missed it by this much. Closed up 29 points to close at 9044 (0.3%). Banks were once again the stars of the show as the ANZ result kicked it higher, up 8.5% with the Big Bank Basket up to $306.63 (+4.8%) a new record close. Other financials were sold down hard as AMP results bombed with investors, the stock falling 26.7%, ZIP dipped 5.8% and CGF fell 6.0%. Insurers also under pressure...

US shares largely trod water, with the S&P 500 not moving either way. Bond yields rose as the US labour market data came out stronger than expected . That might mean the Fed isn’t as quick to cut rates to support jobs. Resources showed some spark, but it’s more consolidating the recent rally than further price appreciation . Perhaps the exception is oil, with energy being the best performer in...

The ASX 200 soared today as CBA delivered in spades, the index rising 147 points to 9015 (+1.7%). How things have changed around since ‘shambolic’ Friday last week. Up over 300 points since then! CBA beat forecasts and drove the banking sector higher. Not often that you see a 6.8% rise in CBA . NAB up 3.4% and the Big Bank Basket up to $292.52 (+5%). Insurers bounced back a little, SUN up 0.6% and...

The S&P 500 slipped on Tuesday as investors reacted to weaker-than-expected retail sales data and grew concerned about the threat artificial intelligence poses to the financial sector. The broad-based index lost 0.33% and ended at 6,941.81, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.59% and closed at 23,102.47. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 52.27 points, or 0.10%, posting a closing record of...

The ASX 200 started strongly, but wilted in the summer sun, up only 17 points at 8887 (0.2%). Part of the reason was the banks which fell as ANZ Consumer sentiment slid on rate rises last week. WBC and ANZ in trouble with around 2% falls, CBA down 0.7% with the Big Bank Basket down to $278.71 (-1.0%). MQG gave up early strong gains, up just 0.8% on a solid update. Insurers were bashed as OpenAI re...

The S&P 500 rose on Monday, boosted by technology stocks, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached new heights as investors awaited critical economic data and another batch of earnings reports following a volatile week that ended with the 30-stock index reaching a key milestone. The broad-based index advanced for a second straight day, rising 0.47% and ending at 6,964.82. The blue-chip D...

The ASX200 rose 161 points to 8870 (1.9%) as we wait for the next catalyst. US futures are slightly positive, but it’s a big week for earnings. CBA and CSL Wednesday. Banks were firm with CBA up 0.6% and the Big Bank Basket up to $281.52 (1.0%). MQG rallied 2.4% and other financials also doing well. ZIP up 3.8% and PPM rose % after a NBIO from CGF . Insurers rose too. REITs had a much better day,...

Wall Street traded higher on Friday, paring losses from earlier in the week, with the Dow Jones index surpassing 50 000 for the first time. Almost all sectors saw gains on the S&P500, with tech stocks leading the index, up +4.1%. Communication Services underperformed, down -1.5%. Amazon declined -5.6% after forecasting a more than 50% increase in capex in 2026 after the bell on Thursday. Chip...

The ASX 200 fell 180points today to 8691 (2.0%). Biggest loss since Liberation Day! Across the board losses and no rally in sight this afternoon. Is this the climax of the selling? No where to run, no where to hide, Materials fell hard led by BHP down 3.1% as copper came under pressure in Asia, RIO held up on news the Glencore deal is off, FMG dipped 1.2%. Gold miners fell, although it could have...