The ASX 200 dropped 89 points to 8668 (-1.0%) giving back Friday’s gains as banks came under intense pressure.  The Big Bank Basket dropped to $279.24 (2.6%). CBA and WBC leading the sector down with other financials also in the spotlight. MQG fell 1.4% with ASX of 2.1% and IFL down 5.8% as the company updated the CC Capital bid. Insurers fell hard too, QBE down 1.9% and IAG off 1.4% with the REIT sector falling hard, GMG down 0.8% and CHC down 2.3%. Industrials also under the knife, WES off 1.0% with CPU down 1.2% and retail falling, JBH off 1.5% and APE down 3.6%. Travel stocks falling to earth, FLT down 3.0% and WEB off 2.5% with ALL down 1.4%. Tech stocks mixed, WTC up 1.9% and XRO off 0.7% on last day for SPP.

Resources were better again, BHP, RIO and FMG did well as China announced a new dam and iron ore continued higher in Asian trade. Lithium stocks squeezed higher, LTR up 11.4% and PLS rising 4.1%. Graphite and rare earths also still in demand, SYR up 17.8% and LYC up 1.4%.  Gold miners saw selling, NEM up 0.5%, NST down 1.5% and EVN off 1.2%. Oil and gas slightly firmer, WDS up 1.4% with uranium stocks also doing well, PDN up 2.3% and coal up too.

In corporate news, AMP jumped 9.8% on update, XYZ rose 11.2% on US Index inclusion. S32 rose 4.5% on FY production guidance. Nothing on the economic front, China left rates unchanged. 

Asian markets modestly higher. Japan closed for Marine Day.

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