The ASX 200 lost 5 points to 9081 for its first down day this week. No Freaky Friday drop! For the week, the index is up 1.8%. Banks leading the way again, the Big Bank Basket up to $311.23 (+0.9%). MQG fell 1.6% with other financials slipping again, ZIP eased 3.8% after an early rally. Insurers though firmed on a better set of numbers from QBE, up 7.1% and SUN up 1.8%.  REITs were slightly firmer, industrials slipped lower, ALL down 4.6%, WOW and COL slid, TLS off 0.6% and REA dropping 0.6%. Retail also fell led by JBH off 1.2% and GYG crashing 13.9% on results and US update. Healthcare eased back, CSL off 0.6% and COH continuing lower. PME dropped 2.1% and RMD fell 0.6%. Tech was once again back on the noise, WTC off 3.8% and XRO falling 3.7% with the All-Tech Index off %.

Resources were mixed, RIO fell 3.1% on results whilst BHP held firm. Gold miners were mixed with results falling, NEM down 4.9% on numbers, GMD off 3.1% on its numbers. Lithium stocks fell, PLS down 4.6% on results, and LTR off 6.4% with results from MIN failing 5.3% to help sentiment. In the oil and gas space STO dropped 0.9% and uranium stocks were ok, PDN up 5.4% on Canadian approvals.

In corporate news, ING dropped as it cut its poultry forecast. NEM off 4.9% on its results, ASB awarded a $4bn contract from the ADF and TLX jumped 14.5% as it guided higher revenues.

On the economic front, nothing today, in the US, we may get the tariff ruling and we have Core PCE.

In Asia, HK back from holidays, down 0.6% and Japan down 1.3%.

US Futures up. DJ up 62 Nasdaq up 42

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Stocks fell on Thursday, leaving the S&P 500 near the flatline for the year, as investors shifted away from financials and monitored simmering tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 267.50 points, or 0.54%, settling at 49,395.16. The broad-based S&P 500 slipped 0.28% and ended at 6,861.89. The Nasdaq Composite lost 0.31% and closed at 22,682.73. 

With Thursday’s move, the S&P 500 was up 0.2% for the year, while the 30-stock Dow was higher by more than 2%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq, however, is down more than 2% in 2026.

SPI down 44 - RIO results - RHC to sell Sante - ING chickens out!

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The ASX 200 kicked higher again. Four days in a row, up 79 to 9086 (0.9%). Up nearly 2% this week. Off record highs as jobs data provides reasons for the RBA to raise rates again. Super Thursday and results dominated, some good, some terrible. Banks firmed yet again, certainty. The Big Bank Basket rose to $308.43 (+1.4%). NAB up 2.4% and WBC up 2.7%. MQG also had a good day up 1.6% with insurers better and financials generally firming, ZIP came undone on disappointing guidance and bad debts.  Down 34.4%. MPL also fell 5.6% on some misses on the numbers.  REITs slid with GMG down 4.0% on results, Industrials were patchy, WES fell 5.6% with ALL and JBH falling away. Healthcare was better, CSL up 1.0% and RMD up 1.5%. Tech was better again, WTC up 1.9% and XRO rising 0.8%. HSN kicked again on broker calls. MAQ also firmed on a new debt facility. TNE also a good bounce on broker upgrades. The All-Tech Index continued higher, up 1.1%.

Resources were also firm, BHP and RIO pushing ahead, gold miners better, GMD up 1.9% on results, NEM up 1.4% and oil and gas stocks rallied hard on crude pushing up on Iran fears. STO up 5.6% and WDS up 4.5% with uranium stocks better too. PDN up 5.5% and LOT rising 4.3%.

In corporate news, plenty around. HUB surged 14.2% on good numbers. LIC dropped 7.1% after profits fell, TLS gained 3.6% on better numbers and rise in dividends. SHL and NWH also rising on better numbers.

On the economic front, jobs numbers came in as expected but 4.1% headline rate gives RBA reasons to raise again perhaps.

In Asia, South Korean markets hitting new records. China and HK closed. Japan up 0.9%

US Futures up. DJ down slightly Nasdaq up 2 pts!

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The S&P 500 moved higher on Wednesday, supported by gains in key technology names, as traders weighed the release of the minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting.

The broad-based index climbed 0.56% to end at 6,881.31, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.78% to close at 22,753.63. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 129.47 points, or 0.26%, and settled at 49,662.66.

SPI up 41 – Commodities rally hard – Super Thursday Reporting – WES – TLS – SHL – BXB – PLS

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The ASX 200 kicked higher again. Three days in a row, up 48 to 9007 (0.5%) despite CBA going ex-dividend. Record high back in sight. NAB was the standout today on Q1 results beating expectations, up 4.1%. The Big Bank Basket up to $304.05 (0.2%), financials kicked higher too, MQG up 0.6% and private health insurers roared ahead on government price changes. MPL up 6.0% and NHF up 5.0%. ZIP jumped 8.0% ahead of results, CGF also ran hard on results, up 8.3%. REITs firmed, GMG up 0.9% and SCG rising 1.3%. Industrials were firm too, QAN up 1.0%, TCL up 1.2% and ALL doing well up 2.3%. JBH fell back a little, healthcare still mixed, SIG down 1.0% and COH off 1.0%. In the tech space, some wins starting to hit the screens, TNE up 8.2% on guidance, XRO up 1.8% and HSN soared 16.4% on better-than-expected results.

In resource land, BHP slid 0.9% as copper drifted lower, RIO up 1.3% and FMG up 0.5%. Gold miners eased back as bullion prices fell on Lunar New Year. GMD down 2.9% and NST dropped 0.7%. CSC had a shocker falling 14.0% on very disappointing results and guidance. Lithium stocks bubbled higher, LTR roaring ahead, up 6.2% with PLS up 2.3%. BSL rose 2.6% on an increased bid from SGH. STO fell 0.6% on another disappointment. Uranium stocks bounded ahead, PDN up 5.6% and DYL up 4.4%.

In corporate news, SLC rose 18.2% on an acquisition and better than expected results. AFG rallied off lows after better numbers. Brokers are back. SUN fell 4.4% as profits fell short.

In economic news, the RBNZ left rates unchanged. Locally, the wage price index rose 0.8% in the December quarter and 3.4% annually.

US futures up. Dow Jones up 35 points, Nasdaq up 60.

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Wobbly, uncertain, but they held on. That was the tale of US stocks last night. They opened down but the Nasdaq finished 0.1% higher and S&P 500 much the same. Apple recovered 3% but most of big tech and the chip stocks didn’t do all that much. US financials were positive and mining stocks were mixed. The rotation continues away from AI and tech. Gold and copper were both down, leading their sectors lower. Oil came off the boil as Iranian tensions moderated somewhat but it didn’t seem to hit energy shares as hard as their gold and copper equivalents. The uranium trade seems to have run out of puff. Again, we find the action more likely to be centred on the ASX because it’s such a big week of earnings updates. We’ve seen some big swings both ways, though mostly down it must be said.

SPI Futures up 43 points. ASX set to open higher. NAB and BSL revised bid from SGH.

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The US bond and stock markets were closed Monday for Presidents’ Day. That means we have no Wall Street lead for today’s ASX. SPI futures are up 15 points and suggest the ASX will open modestly higher. The news of the day will be dominated by the release of BHP’s latest results. The market will be looking for further clarity around their current negotiations around iron ore pricing with China. Commodity contracts still changed hands, with oil edging up as the world awaits Iranian developments, while gold slipped back on thin trading. Industrial metals in London were generally lower. China is on Lunar New Year holiday all week so news flow from the biggest consumer will be muted. I wouldn’t expect much from any of them for now.

BHP - SEK - JDO results

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The ASX 200 finished up 20 to 8937 (0.2%) despite the big miners falling on lower iron ore prices.  Banks pushed up slightly, NAB down 1.0% and ANZ off 3.1% with the Big Bank Basket up to $304.06 (%). Other financials were mixed, NWL rallied 3.7% and GQG up 5.5% with ZIP forging ahead up 5.5%. MQG rose 0.4%. Insurers better. Industrials were solid, WES up 1.2% with retail better as JBH rose 7.5% on better results, ALL up 2.2% and WOW and COL slightly firmer. ‘Old skool’ platform stocks also doing ok, REA up 2.9% and CAR up 2.7%. Tech stocks were the standouts after a torrid week last week. WTC up 12.9% and XRO rallying 7.6% with the All-Tech Index up 4.0%. 360 rose 6.8% with CAT also doing well, up 5.1%. REITs firmed, GMG up 0.6%.

In resources, the big three iron ore miners sold off as prices dipped below $100. Gold miners were bid up, GMD up 7.4% on a takeover of MAU. NEM gained 2.7% and WGX up 1.4%. Lithium stocks slightly firmer. VUL up 3.1%.  Oil and gas stocks rose, uranium stocks glowed hotter, PDN up 1.4% and BMN up 4.6%.

In corporate news, TWE fell 5.2% after a disappointing result and a cut of the dividend. JBH rose 7.5% on a beat. ASB jumped 19.5% after a disastrous day Friday, QUB rose 3.3% after Macquarie went binding on its takeover at 520c. A2M creamed it up 6.8% after a better second half and ANN bounced 3.8% on cost cutting effort paying off.

Nothing on the economic front.

US Futures up slightly in birthday celebrations.

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It was a modest night of action on Friday as far as Wall Street is concerned. The S&P500 and the Nasdaq were essentially flat while the Russell 2000 outperformed, up 1%. Small caps keep showing more life than the big caps. Inflation data for January increased less than expected thanks to cheap “gas” and moderating housing rents. In the 12 months through to January, the CPI increased 2.4%. The reading was 2.7% in December. The market raised the odds of a June rate cut in response. 9 out of 11 S&P500 sectors were positive. Apple slipped again, down 2%, as was Nvidia. US financials, and the wider chip stocks, were solid but little moved. Gold shares rallied in response to a positive session for bullion.

SPI Futures up 51 points. ASX set to open higher.

Gold rallied a solid 2%, and silver did the same. Oil was steady, no doubt bolstered in part by the news a second US aircraft carrier is heading to the Middle East. Trump is flexing American muscle as Iran talks continue. Industrial metals were weak in London and iron ore is fading as Chinese demand still looks tepid. Copper inventories crossed over 1 million tons for the first time in 20 years. Bitcoin rallied 5% as it tries to form a base after the recent price collapse. Lost some of those gains over the weekend. Another big week of earnings for the ASX coming up.

TWE - BEN - JBH out this morning.

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