US stocks ended lower despite a wave of early optimism, sparked by news that U.S. President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping have agreed to resume trade talks. In corporate news, Brown-Forman — the maker of Jack Daniel’s — suffered its steepest share price drop since 2008 following weaker-than-expected earnings. Meanwhile, consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble announced plans to cut 7,000 jobs as part of a restructuring effort. Across the Atlantic, the European Central Bank cut interest rates once again but signaled a possible pause in future easing. Oil prices climbed on renewed hopes surrounding U.S.-China trade negotiations. Back home, Australian shares are set to finish the week in the red ahead of the long weekend.

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Most sectors have fallen back today despite a positive start to the session.  Laura and Stevie discuss this session which saw the market fading following the gains of yesterday, reflect on international news with Trump introducing travel bans, and they look at the stocks that moved the most.  The materials sector did see some stand outs today as did the tech space, lithium stocks continued to gain attention amid news out of the US, and they look to the day ahead.

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US stocks struggled to advance as fresh data pointed to a slowing economy, with sentiment dented by a soft US jobs report that snapped the Dow Jones’ four-day winning streak. Interest rates fell as investors bet on potential Fed rate cuts, fueling a surge in home builder stocks. Meanwhile, DollarTree has warned of a looming profit hit tied to possible Trump tariffs, while Tesla shares declined after weak sales data in Germany and China. In Europe, markets ended higher, with German stocks boosted by a newly announced tax relief package. Closer to home, Aussie shares are expected to open flat, hovering just shy of record highs.

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The market has neared record levels once again today as it cracked through a three-month high.  Laura and Stevie unpack the local session and discuss international markets with the US having seen a bounce back from recent lows.  Interest rate cuts could be on the cards sooner than expected amid data out today, most of the sectors gained ground with energy being an outperformer, and they look at the stocks that gained attention including Commonwealth Bank which continues to set records.

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Wall Street was boosted by gains in technology stocks, with Nvidia reclaiming its title as the world’s most valuable company. Chipmakers also rallied on renewed hopes around US-China trade talks. Meanwhile, US job openings rebounded in April, suggesting resilience in the labour market. In corporate news, shares in dating app Bumble fell amid growing concerns over its market share. In commodities, oil rose 1.5% on rising geopolitical tensions, while gold eased from a four-week high. Closer to home, Aussie shares are expected to open higher on Wednesday ahead of the release of key economic growth figures.

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The local market has had the largest lift in a month today.  Laura and Stevie discuss the recent performance where the market has largely remained stagnant despite the session today, unpack the likeliness of further rate cuts following the release of the RBA minutes, and discuss the latest in tariff headlines.  A number of stocks caught attention including IDP Education, Treasury Wine Estates, and Bluescope, and they look to the days ahead.

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US stocks have posted modest gains to start June, as investors largely shrugged off renewed global trade tensions. Steel and aluminium shares jumped after President Trump pledged to double tariffs on the metals, though the move is expected to raise production costs for automakers. Elsewhere, European markets stumbled in response to the latest tariff threats, while energy shares in North America rose more than 1% as wildfires threatened Canadian oil supply. Meanwhile, the US dollar slipped, providing support for commodities—gold climbed to a three-week high and US copper futures surged amid growing tariff concerns. Closer to home, Aussie shares are set to open higher ahead of the Reserve Bank’s meeting minutes, with the Aussie dollar edging closer to 65 US cents.

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The Aussie market has had a slow start to the month remaining mostly flat.  Stevie is back for the podcast today (even though his voice may not be) to discuss the last month’s performance with Laura, and the mixed news around tariffs which could have kept markets cautious.  Commodity prices were in focus today on the back of rising geopolitical tensions, they look at how the sectors performed with many seeing losses, and the stocks that caught attention including Bluescope.

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Wall Street wrapped up the month on a high note, with both the NASDAQ and S&P 500 posting their best May gains since the 1990s. Investor sentiment was lifted by encouraging inflation data and moderating interest rates. Elsewhere, Costco shares climbed after the retail giant reported earnings that surpassed expectations, while commodities eased as investors turned their focus to upcoming key manufacturing figures. Closer to home, the ASX 200 is poised to kick off June with modest gains.

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Aussie shares are wrapping up May on a positive note, with the market up 3.8% for the month and 0.8% for the week. A surprise dip in retail sales sparked speculation of rate cuts, with markets now pricing in three cuts by year-end. Trade tensions are back in the spotlight as a US court temporarily backed Trump's push for tariffs, adding fresh uncertainty. Sector-wise, tech has been a standout, up 30% over eight weeks despite a small pullback today, while energy stocks lagged on falling oil prices. All eyes now turn to key US inflation data and the RBA’s economic updates next week.

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