Market Updates

SPI Futures down 13 points. ASX set to open slightly lower. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closed at fresh record highs . The S&P 500 was up 0.22%, its ninth straight weekly gain - the longest winning streak since December 2023. The Dow Jones was up 363 points (+0.72%). The NASDAQ was up 0.21%. The Russell 2000 was down 0.59%. VIX lower again at 15.32 - getting very comfortable. DELL was up 3...

The ASX 200 jumped 139 points to close the week at 8732 (+1.6%) on a very firm note as hopes built that there will be some resolution, or at least an extension of the ceasefire in the Middle East. There seemed to be a lot of short covering around today after the 125-point fall yesterday. We reversed that today, with the banking sector bouncing back hard, with CBA up 2.2%, NAB up 0.6%, and the Big...

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed at records on Thursday as tech resumed its leadership, and traders weighed a reported agreement between U.S. and Iranian negotiators to extend the ceasefire.  The broader index gained 0.58% to 7,563.63, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.91% to 26,917.47. Both indexes also hit intraday all-time highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was higher by 0.05% a...

The ASX 200 took a dive today, down another 125pts at 8593 (1.4%), as the peace deal in the Gulf is starting to slide away. Banks and gold bore the brunt of the selling, with CBA off 2.1% and WBC down 1.3%, with the Big Bank Basket at $269.32 (-1.9%). Insurers also fell hard, QBE down 2.8% and IAG off 1.6%, with financials generally easier, while ASX continues lower. REITs also fell as bond yields...

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to a new record on Wednesday as oil prices retreated, while the S&P 500 eked out a tiny gain, with chip stocks keeping the index’s gains in check. The 30-stock Dow gained 182.60 points, or 0.36%, for a record close of 50,644.28. The blue-chip index also hit an intraday all-time high. The broad market S&P 500 ticked 0.02% higher to 7,520.36, another clo...

The ASX 200 started slowly with early losses, but after a benign and better-than-expected CPI read, the bulls were back. The ASX 200 closed up 60 points at 8718 (0.7%). Banks fought back from bigger early losses, with CBA up modestly and WBC down 0.6X%. The Big Bank Basket unchanged at $275.52, whilst other financials improved, with MQG up 1.0%. IFT was having a good day on some broker upgrades, u...

The S&P 500 gained 0.6% on Tuesday and the Nasdaq climbed 1.2% to fresh record highs while the Dow Jones finished 118 points lower as investors returned from the long weekend with continued focus on developments in the Middle East. Markets remained cautiously optimistic that the US and Iran could still reach an agreement, with traders viewing the two sides as closer than ever to a deal despite...

The ASX 200 eased back 34 points today to 8658 (0.4%) in a quiet session, with US and UK markets closed last night. The banking sector was modestly lower, with NAB falling 0.8% and some more profit taking in MQG down1.6%. The Big Bank Basket $274.56 (-0.3%). Financials generally were under pressure as ASX revealed a further blowout in capex, and the shares fell hard, down 13.2%. Elsewhere, industr...

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The ASX 200 kicked off the week up 35 points to 8692 (0.4%) as optimism on a peace deal washed through. Some scepticism remains, so it was a cautious start to the week. US markets are closed tonight. Banks held firm as NAB rose 1.1% and CBA dropped 0.7%. The Big Bank Basket was steady around $275.42. Insurers slid as yields fell, QBE off 2.1% and MQG lost 1.1%. Other financials were mixed, ASX dow...

Wall St ended a positive week on a steady note, with the S&P 500 finishing up 0.37% to close at 7,473, capping off an eighth straight weekly gain - the longest weekly winning streak since 2023. The index sits just 0.3% below its all-time high. The Dow Jones added 294 points (+0.58%) to close at a record high. The Nasdaq was up 0.19%. The Russell 2000 added 0.91%. Hawkish comments from Fed Gove...

The ASX 200 rallied another 35 points to 8657 (0.4%) ahead of a US long weekend. Up 27 pts for the week. Banks pushed ahead, led by CBA up 0.9 %, and the Big Bank Basket to $275.57 (0.8%). Insurers slid as yields fell, NWL off 1.0% and GQG falling 2.2% as tech boomed. Industrials were mixed, TLS fell 1.5% as a broker downgraded the stock, REA continued lower, off 4.1%, as did CAR off 2.8%, with te...

US stocks finished higher on Thursday after a volatile trading session, as renewed hopes for a potential US-Iran agreement to end the conflict pushed oil prices lower for a third consecutive day. The S&P 500 gained 0.2%, the Nasdaq edged up 0.1%, and the Dow Jones rose 276 points to close at a fresh record high. Reports indicated that Iran said the latest US proposal had partly narrowed the ga...

The ASX 200 bounced back 125 points to 8,622 (1.5%) as the roller coaster continued this week. News from the White House on peace progress was the kicker, together with unemployment numbers coming in worse than expected at 4.5%. Pressure off the RBA. Both banks and resources fired today, with CBA up 0.9% and WBC rising 2.2%, with the Big Bank Basket rising to $273.39 (+1.4%). MQG jumped 1.7% and o...

SPI Futures up 104 points. ASX to open higher. US Futures lower on Nvidia. Wall St bounced sharply as oil fell and bond yields retreated from multi-year highs on hopes the Iran war is nearing resolution. S&P 500 up 1.1%. Dow Jones up 645 points (+1.3%), closing back above 50,000. Nasdaq up 1.5%. Volume above average. Every sector higher except Energy, down 2.6% on the oil drop. Consumer Discre...

The ASX 200 gave up yesterday's gain and more, dropping another 108 points to 8,497 (1.3%) as the rout continues. Resources bore the brunt of the selling as inflation fears stoked higher rates and tore through commodities. BHP fell 2.3% and RIO off 1.5% with gold miners under pressure again, EVN down 4.9% and NEM falling 4.5%. Oil and gas firmed, but uranium stocks eased back, PDN down 4.5%....

US equities extended their decline on Tuesday as a continued selloff in US Treasuries, driven by inflation concerns tied to the war in the Middle East, pressured investor sentiment. The S&P 500 finished 0.7% lower, the Nasdaq closed down 0.8% while The Dow shed more than 300 points, or 0.6%. AI infrastructure companies continued their correction after soaring this month, previously supported b...

The ASX 200 bounced back 99 points today to 8605 (1.2%) as banks led the recovery. CBA gained % with the Big Bank Basket up to $271.83 (=1.5%%). NAB the standout gaining 2.0%. MQG also had a good day up 1.9% and insurers did well as higher bond yields helped, QBE up 2.9% and MPL rising 2.1%. REITs also had a better day with GMG up 1.8% and CHC up 2.2%. Industrials were firm, WES finally finding bu...

The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 fell on Monday, bogged down by declines in technology, as traders monitored oil prices and bond yields while awaiting further developments with the conflict in the Middle East. The broad market benchmark dropped 0.07% to end at 7,403.05, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq slid 0.51% and closed at 26,090.73. It was the second straight day of declines for both index...

The ASX 200 fell 126 points to 8,505 (-1.5%) today in a dismal start to the week. Thankfully, the banking sector held up relatively well, with CBA posting a 1% rise, while insurers also performed strongly on the back of higher bond yields. The Big Bank Basket rose to $267.83 (+0.3%). Other financials did not fare as well, with MQG falling 2.6%, HUB down 1.1%, and the REIT sector also under pressur...

Stocks fell sharply on Friday as investors grew increasingly concerned about the impact of the prolonged conflict with Iran, particularly the risk that higher energy prices could further fuel inflation and keep interest rates elevated. The S&P 500 lost 1.2%, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.5% and the Dow Jones fell 1.1%. Investors took profits in the technology sector following strong recent ga...

The ASX 200 eased back another 10 points to 8631 (0.1%), capping off a miserable week at the index level. The index fell 1.3% this Budget week, mainly as banks crashed with CBA in focus. Banks made up some lost ground after significant falls this week, with CBA up 1.9%, ANZ up 1.1%, and the Big Bank Basket rising to $266.97 (1.4%). Insurers had a good day, with QBE rising 1.9% and SUN also doing w...

Stocks were higher on Thursday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average retaking 50,000 after strong earnings from Cisco Systems and following a key meeting between U.S. and China. The 30-stock index popped 370.26 points, or 0.75%, to end at 50,063.46. The S&P 500 climbed 0.77% and closed at 7,501.24, while the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.88% to 26,635.22. Those two indexes scored fresh all-time i...

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US equities were mixed, with tech outperforming losses in broader sectors as faster inflation weighed against the ongoing AI rally. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq rose more than 0.5% while the Dow fell 200 points. Producer inflation surged more than expected in April, both for energy-exposed goods and non-energy services, to show that the impact of the war in the Middle East on prices has spread p...