• The ASX 200 quietly firm up 6 points to 7412 (0.1%). Banks and materials firing up again ahead of budget tomorrow night. The Big Bank Basket rose to $189.87 with NAB up 0.8% and MQG doing well up 1.1% as SUN rallied 1.2%. ASX up 0.4% despite delays to CHESS with GQG down 1.5%. Healthcare down as dollar earners under pressure, CSL down 1.1%, COH off 3.2% and FPH continuing lower by 3.5%. REITS slipped led by GMG down 2.9%. Industrials weaker across the board, TLS down 0.8%, REH off 2.3%, WES falling 1.3% and SEK down 3.9%. TECH down heavily with the All Tech Index off 2.5% as WTC fell 4.1%, XRO down 5.2% and SQ2 off 3.7%. Different story in commodity stocks, BHP up 2.3%, FMG up 0.8%, S32 better by 2.0% and rare earths in demand, LYC up 2.2% and ARU doing well up 15.3%. Some profit taking in lithium stocks with LTR down 4.7%. Energy stocks mixed as crude fell in Asian trade, OPEC plus meeting Thursday, WPL down 1.3% and STO unchanged. 
• In corporate news, SGR MD fell on his sword as the review of the casino continues rising 0.3%. Nothing on the economic front ahead of Budget tomorrow. In Asian trade, mixed session, HK up 1.3%, China down 0.8% and Japan down 0.4%. 10-year yields soaring again to 2.90% 

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