ASX 200 lost 25 points to 7027 (0.4%) as caution prevailed. It is a big week ahead with results, AGMs and economic data. Many players happy to hug the sidelines. Banks eased back with the Big Bank Basket down to $176.66 (0.5%). WBC the worst of the bunch down 0.8%. MQG off 1.4% with insurers mixed and fund managers easing. MFG fell 4.1% after moves in MGF to change its structure next year. REITs a little weaker with GMG down 1.0% and SGP off 1.3%. Industrials flat across the board, TLC off 0.9%. QAN fell 2.4% after Olivia Worth resigned to go on the Myer board. Retailers under pressure, JBH down 1.2% and LOV off 3.0%. DMP lost 3.2% as ozempic effects may hurt pizza sales. Tech under pressure again following Nasdaq falls, WTC off 2.3% and XRO down 3.4%, the All Tech Index off 2.2%. Iron ore miners were firm on higher Asian iron ore pricing. Lithium stocks fell as Albemarle took their bat and ball and went home on its LTR bid. PLS down 1.0% and MIN off 0.6%. AKE dropped 3.1%. Gold miners were the stars of the show, NCM up 3.3% with NST up 3.2% as AUD pushed ahead, oil and gas stocks slightly higher, WDS up 0.9% STO up 0.3% despite a rush in the crude price. Uranium stocks under pressure today as one broker downgraded forecasts. In corporate news, GMD made a play for DCN, LTR in a trading halt pending a funding update and capital raise. FBU dropped 8.6% on WA woes. WBC got a new chair-elect and TWE updated trading conditions to a second half story. Nothing on the economic front today. Asian markets slipped and 10-year yields steady around 4.46%.

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