Between the Bells

Aussie shares came under pressure at the open, falling 1.9%, following Wall Street and European equities which lost 2.2% and 2.3% respectively. With the risk-off environment returning, money flowed back into bonds and gold, pushing the gold price up 0.2%. Meanwhile, oil gained 1.7%, moving back above $20 a barrel.

Today, investors will be watching:

1. Financials, Energy and Materials
2. Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL)
3. Contact Energy (ASX:CEN)
4. Star Entertainment (ASX:SGR)
5. Vista Group (ASX:VGL)
6. Stocks bucking from COVID-19, Fisher & Paykel (ASX:FPH), Costa Group (ASX:CGC), Resmed (ASX:RMD), Metcash (ASX:MTS), Coles (ASX:COL), Chorus (ASX:CNU) and all defensive stocks
7. The US dollar

The Australian share market looks like it could extend its bull market rally following the 1.9% rise yesterday, as Wall Street rallied overnight. 

The COVID19 infection curve is flattening globally. And in the U.S, the 1st batch of quarterly earnings results came out overnight, with Johnson and Johnson results beating forecasts, while it raised its dividend, which boosted its stock over 4% higher. Earnings from the financial segment, like JPMorgan were below expectations though, but JPMorgan’s trading division revenue surged 32% to a record  US$7.2b.

Gold fell 0.8%, to $1,758 an ounce. While Oil fell back to $20 a barrel as demand remains low. But that could all change as Trump plans to restart some U.S states on 1 May. 

What to watch today: 
1. Local IT stocks are expended to do well again today - buyers are already lining up to buy Altium (ASX:ALU) and Appen (ASX:APX) and Bravua (ASX:BVS) and Afterpay (ASX:APT). 
2. Gold stocks which rallied 14% yesterday – like Northern Star (ASX:NST)  look like they could see profit-taking. 
3. Also look out for stocks are linked to the Chinese consumer – they could start to build moment given China 1st quarter import data yesterday showed their imports are rebounding
4. Also, keep an out for institutional buying. Under Research and Tools on Bell Direct, you can click Substantial holdings. Yesterday you would have seen Flight Centre FLT shares rose 16% yesterday after Credit Suisse and its associated entities increased their stake in the business – and now again overnight another investor- UBS – bought into the stock. 
5. Infant formulae and goat milk business, Bubs Australia (ASX:BUB) are expected to rally after Bubs reported sales rose 67% in the quarter.

The Australian share market is continuing to rise of its March lows, pushing further into positive territory hitting a four week high, as the coronavirus outbreak appears to have turned a corner, while in the US - a level of uncertainty was removed as Bernie Sanders stood from the presidential race, while the oil price gained 4% to about $26 a barrel ahead of planned production cuts by OPEC later today. US equities ended higher overnight with the S&P500 up 3.4%.

In terms of the most valued stocks, CSL shares rose 2% it affirmed its profit guidance for FY20 of $2.11 to $2.17 billion. The big four banks are higher today with ANZ and NAB up the most over 3% with WBC following, while the best big four bank performer this year, CBA is up 1%. 

The Property, Industrials, and IT sectors are up 4 to 5%. Investors also watching; Perenti Global (ASX:PRN) as NAB became a major shareholder,  ooh! Media (ASX:OML) which gained for the second week (while it delayed its AGM due to COVID19), and Credit Corp (ASX:CCP) which has seen big institutional ownership changes. While Northern Star (ASX:NST) falls 3% on the gold price slip along with Independence Group (ASX:IGO)

The ASX rose for the second consecutive week, climbing 2.8% after last week's 4.7% rise. However, volatility is not expected to be over just yet. We look to the GFC for a textbook example of temporary rallies followed by further falls. 

In this week’s wrap, Jessica covers: 

• Aussies buying the dip: all ASX sectors make gains this week (1:45)
• Stocks in the spotlight: Vicinity Centres (ASX:VCX) up 22% (1:59)
• A word on utilising your super during COVID-19 (3:00)
• Dividend traps: re-evaluate before you fall behind the mark (4:16) 
• Data driven stock ideas: using Bell Direct's Strategy Builder (5:00)

The ASX200 opened 1.9% lower, largely as expected with most sectors in the red, except Staples moving higher. It comes as US equities retreated overnight with oil slipping. We saw Europe stocks advance with the German Dax up 2.8% and London FTSE up 2.2% on hopes European COVID-19 cases have peaked, while the UK prime minster is now stable in ICU.

All eyes on Westpac (ASX:WBC), National Australia Bank (ASX:NAB), Australia & New Zealand Banking group (ASX:ANZ), Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA), Treasury Wine Estates (ASX:TWE) & Austal (ASX:ASB).

The Australian share market is expected to continue to rally at the open, with the futures suggested a 2.4% lift today.

Yesterday the ASX200, gained 4.3% as COVID-19 new cases slowed in Australia, while the energy sector led the charge following its biggest weekly gain in history.

Today further impetus behind us, as US equities surged over 7% higher with the new COVID-19 cases appearing to be slowing there. In Europe cases are slowing, helping the benchmark Stoxx600 end 3.7% up. Meanwhile, the Oil price has held above $26.30 despite losing 8% on uncertainty as to when these crude oil output cuts will come, to stabilise the market.

Investors will be watching: The RBA meets today for its April monthly meeting- with rates expected to remain on hold. Also keep your eyes out for Australian export and import figures, both of which are expected to have slowed in February. So I’d be watching some of Australia's biggest exporters, BHP (ASX:BHP), Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG), Woodside Petroleum (ASX:WPL), CSL (ASX:CSL), packaging business Amcor (ASX:AMC), gold miner Newcrest Mining (ASX:NCM) and port company Qube (ASX:QUB).

The Aussie share market opened 2.1% higher in the first 30 mins of trade erasing Friday’s 1.7% loss. The energy sector is leading the advance today as it did last week on hopes of an oil price truce between Russia and Saudi Arabia.

What to watch this week economically and ASX upgrades/downgrades to watch as well including Ramsay Health Care (ASX:RHC) Graincorp (ASX:GNC), WiseTech (ASX:WTC). Companies cutting costs: McGrath (ASX:MEA), HT&E (ASX:HT1), Southern Cross Media (ASX:SXL). Meanwhile, Dexus (ASX:DXS) forms JV to buy Rialto Towers in Melbourne.

Global equities continue to take a hit as COVID-19 continues to spread. Financials and energy similarly fall. Is there a way forward for investors? Jessica looks at the smart investor's investment strategy and how a little planning, can go a long way.

In this week’s wrap, Jessica covers:

• Around the world in 60 seconds - a look at global equities (0:09)
• Defensive sectors continue to outperform (1:31)
• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare (ASX:FPH) best performing stock YTD (2:23)
• Golden stock tips: insights from Goldman Sachs (2:59)
• IDP Education (ASX:IEL) & CSL (ASX:CSL) in the buy-zone (4:29)
• 'Quality' & outperforming listed products to consider (5:33)

Aussie shares track 1.9% lower after the White House projected 100,000 to 240,000 COVID19 deaths in the U.S. The S&P500 lost 4.4%, but after Wall Street closed, its futures lifted, suggesting a bounce back. The energy sector charges for the second day as oil rises 5%. 

IDP Education shares surged 22% after it raises more money than expected and assured investors it’s now adequately funded to navigate the coronavirus uncertain times. 

Gold miners like Evolution Mining and St Barbara lift. 

Bell Potter Research updates on Suncorp and Australian Pharmaceutical Industries.

Aussie shares kicked off the month and quarter up 3.4% on Wednesday 1 April at midday.  Overnight markets were mixed with US equities down, while European equities made gains, gold fell to US$1,597 an ounce and oil rose 2% with US President Donald Trump and his counterpart, Vladimir Putin set to hold talks to stabilise energy markets. 

All eyes on: Oil Search  (ASX:OSH) up 18% as a Japanese fund manager increased their stake in the firm. Macquarie dropped its target price to $4.00, (It's trading around $2.81). Scentre Group (ASX:SGC) another stand-out, up 12% on securing extra funding to boost its liquidity position to $3.1 billion, while it announced it has $2.5b in bonds, plus other bank facilities maturing, which will help it navigate Coronavirus (COVID19)

Investors absorb better than expected economic data: Australian manufacturing data for March, taking the industry out of the contraction phase amid frenzy stockpiling. Plus building approvals were also better than expected in February, with VIC unit approvals surging. 

Bell Potter Upgrades: Agribusiness Elders (ASX:ELD) reiterated as a buy. And Upgraded Johns Lyng Group (ASX:JLG) to a buy as its construction is listed as an “essential service”, company bookings lift.