Market Updates

The ASX 200 fell 124 points to 9077 (1.3%) as events in the Middle East started to catch up. Comments from Michele Bullock on rate rises didn’t help sentiment. Although the RBA is as in the dark as the rest of us in terms of implications. Across the board losses as resources saw profit taking, BHP fell 2.6% and RIO dropped 2.4%. Gold miners eased back after gains yesterday, leverage again being un...

US equities were mostly higher in Monday trading, ending a bit off best levels. Big tech was mostly higher with NVDA the upside standout. Other outperformers included energy (crude), defense (Iran), software, banks (particularly regionals), PE, insurers, steel, rails, small-caps, and E&Cs. Laggards included airlines (fuel-price concerns), homebuilders (yields), semis, HDDs, managed care (ELV),...

An interesting day as the ASX 200 closed up 2 points at 9201. A good fight back from early losses as we await the day’s action in Iran. The playbook for a conflict was back in force. Gold miners rose with NST up 4.8% and EVN rising 6.6%, base metal stocks also rose with oil and gas stocks flying high, STO up 6.7% with KAR rallying 15.2% on a broker upgrade too. Uranium stocks firmed. The big miner...

The Nasdaq finished down 0.9% on Friday night. The S&P 500 0.4%. The Dow lost 521 points. The VIX rose 6.9%. Bitcoin fell back another 2%. Financials were the worst performing sector in the S&P 500. old rose 1% and US bonds rallied, both on a safe haven bid. Events over the weekend have overtaken markets. Oil opens in an hour. NZ down 1.6%- SPI down 20 but that was before the attack. — Mar...

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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 – Mana...

Another day, another record high as the ASX 200 rose 47 points to 9174 (0.5%). Banks missed the memo today, the Big Bank Basket fell to $309.01 (-0.5%) with ANZ a winner. MQG too rallied a little, up 1.2% and other financials also rallied, AMP up 3.9% and ZIP rallying another 5.4%. GQG also had a better day up 2.3% with PPT up 8.3% on results. Insurers flat. REITs better, GMG up 1.2% and SCG risin...

U.S. equities rose on Wednesday, supported by Nvidia and Oracle, as stocks built on the gains from the prior trading day. The S&P 500 added 0.81% and closed at 6,946.13, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 1.26% to 23,152.08. The Dow Jones Industrial Average increased 307.65 points, or 0.63%, and settled at 49,482.15. Commodities rally. Bitcoin up 8%, Nvidia up 3% on results - Results in focus -...

The ASX 200 rose 106 points to 9128 (1.2%). Banks were slightly higher with WBC up % and the Big Bank Basket rose to $310.41 (0.5%). MQG had an anaemic 0.3% rally. Financials were better with GQG up 3.3% and ZIP soaring 9.4%. NWL and HUB also rallied. Insurers flat. REITs mixed, SCG up 0.3% and MGR falling 1.0%. Healthcare mixed, CSL flat, RMD down 2.7%. Tech was the place to be following a US ral...

U.S. equities rose on Tuesday, led by gains in Advanced Micro Devices and software stocks, as investors’ fears around artificial intelligence disruption to certain industries eased. The S&P 500 advanced 0.77% to close at 6,890.07, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 1.04% and settled at 22,863.68. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 370.44 points, or 0.76%, and ended at 49,174.50. The 30-stock...

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...

— 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 – Ma...

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...