Market Updates

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 236.77 points, or 0.58%, to finish at 40,896.53. The S&P 500 rose 0.97% to close at 5,608.25, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 1.39% and ended at 17,876.77. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq notched their eighth straight winning day, a first for both indexes in 2024.
Last week saw the biggest gains for the three indices for the year!

The percentage of S&P500 companies that reached above their 10-day and 50-day moving averages ramped up to about 90% and 69%, respectively.

ASX SPI up 36 points.

COMMODITIES

• Oil falls by more than $2 a barrel on Gaza ceasefire talks and weak Chinese economy.
• Gold subdued after record run as traders await cues from Fed.
• Dalian iron ore reverses losses on stronger steel prices, stimulus hopes.
• Scores in central Serbia rally against Rio Tinto's lithium project.
• China demand hopes, lower dollar lift copper prices.

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ASX 200 managed a small 9-point rise to 7976 (0.1%) as results dominated. WBC off to a promising start, up 2.5% its 3Q update beating estimates, the Big Bank Basket rose yet again to $236.30 (1%). Other financials mixed, MQG lost 0.1% as it launched a $1bn hybrid issue. SUN up 1.3% on results. REITs mixed, GMG down 1.3% with GPT firing 1.7% higher. Industrials wafting around. Staples were ok, retail held on to gains, dull industrials lost ground. REH down 3.9% on results, SVW off 2.2% and RWC also 2.9% lower. In resources, iron ore continues to flounder. BHP falling 0.7% and FMG down another 1.9%, gold miners better on bullion prices NST up 1.7% and EVN up 2.7%. Uranium stocks are falling with a clear out happening, PDN down 5.8% and BOE off 4.6%. Oil and gas slightly firmer. In corporate news, A2M soured 18.8% on the Chinese outlook. ADB soared 19.9% on the same numbers from two weeks ago, WBC did well, NXL leapt 25.5% on its results, and LLC fell 0.8% as it continues to jettison the international division. Nothing on the economic front today, RBA Minutes tomorrow. Asian markets mixed, Japan down 1.7%, China up 0.3% and HK up 0.8%. Australian 10-year yields 3.92%.

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Wall Street closed out the week higher in an uneventful day of trade. The S&P 500 and NASDAQ rose for their seventh consecutive session advancing 0.20% and 0.21% as most megacaps gained, with Nivida leading the charge, up 1.4%. The Dow Jones finished 97 points higher (0.24%). Up 163 at best. Down 109 points at worst. Small firms Russell 2000 rose 0.30%, and the VIX fell another 2.82%. All three major indexes finished the week higher, clocking their biggest weekly gain since October last year. Dow +2.94%, while the S&P 500 and NASDAQ advanced 3.93% and 5.29%, posting their first weekly gain in five weeks.

ASX SPI Down 14 - WBC Trading Update 

• WTI down 2.02% and Brent Crude off 1.62%.
• Copper dropped 0.29% as BHP said it had reached a deal with the labour union to resolve a strike at its Escondia copper miner in Chile, easing supply concerns.
• Base metals ended mixed despite a weaker USD. Nickel +0.30%, aluminium +0.51%, zinc -0.59%, lead -0.10%, and tin +0.10%.
• Iron ore futures fell for a fifth consecutive session, down 1.39%, with bearish sentiment prevailing.
• Uranium flat and lithium fell 0.21%.
• Gold prices hit an all-time high overnight as the USD weakened on growing expectations for a September rate cut. Bullion rose 2.08%.

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ASX 200 roars 106 points ahead to 7971 (1,.3%) up 2.5% for the week, to finish 30 points above where we were two Fridays ago. Results and reactions the focal point with US strength helping all sectors. NAB with 3Q trading update helped the sector, CBA up 2.,4% and the Big Bank Basket up to $233.86 (2.0%). Insurers also in demand with QBE and SUN up 1%. ASX unchanged on its results, MQG rose 0.6%. REITs were mixed, GMG seeing some profit taking down 1.1% and SGP up 2.0%. Industrials firm. TLS rose slightly on broker comments, AMC slipped 2.8% on its numbers, BXB up 1.5% and REH doing ok. Tech slightly better, WTC up 0.7% and REA adding another 2.5%. In resources, we saw a bounce back despite Iron ore slipping in Singapore again. BHP up 2.0%, and RIO bouncing 1.6%, with FMG seeing some Friday book squaring up 3.1%. Lithium plays were better on hope more than anything, PLS up 5.8% and LTR up 1.3%. Gold miners slightly firmer, DEG up 1.7% and EVN up 3.3%. Energy stocks firmed, WDS up 2.4% and uranium stocks glowing, BOE up 5.5% and DYL up 5.5%. On the corporate scene, results from GQG and DHG saw small losses. On the economic front, RBA chief Bullock was in Canberra talking tough on interest rates. Two-speed economy. Borrowers are struggling debt-free spending. Asian markets firmed, Japan up 8% this week! Up 3.0% today alone. HK up 2.1%, and China unchanged. 10-year yields 3.94%. Dow Futures up 89 points. NASDAQ Futures up 79 points.

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Stocks rallied on Thursday as investors regained confidence in the economy following encouraging consumer and labor data that helped ease recession worries.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average leaped 554 points, or 1.39%, to end the day at 40,563.06. The S&P 500 closed up 1.61% at 5,543.22, for its sixth straight gain. The broad market index has advanced roughly 8% from its intraday bottom on Aug. 5. The Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.34% to 17,594.50.

COMMODITES

• Oil rises nearly 2% on upbeat US economic data, geopolitical tension.
• Gold pares gains as dollar, bond yields climb after strong US data.
• Iron ore hits over 14-mth low as weak China property data clouds demand outlook.
• BHP strike in Chile enters third day, buoying global copper price.

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ASX 200 gave up its gains to be up only 15 points to 7866 (0.2%) after being skewered by jobs data and iron ore prices in Singapore. Economic data showed the jobs market was still tight despite the headline number rising to 4.2%. Iron ore slid again in Singapore on Chinese steel news, BHP fell 1.0% and RIO was off 3.6%, including its dividend. FMG down another 2.9% with MIN falling 3.0%. Lithium sector off again, despite PLS bidding for LRS. Scrip bid and PLS dropped 3.9% on the news. Gold miners slid with EVN giving up some recent gains, NST down 0.7% and uranium and coal stocks easing back again. Banks were firm with WBC and ANZ taking up the running. CBA steady and the Big Bank Basket up to $229.33 (0.8%). MQG rallied 1.3% with the ASX bouncing back 0.9%. MFG results out and an acquisition boosted fund managers. GQG up 4.8%. TLS did well on results up 2.1% with many industrials in the green. Healthcare was an interesting space, COH was dumped 7.3% on lower guidance and CSL drifted. Tech mixed, APX down 4.2% and WTC off 0.5%. In other corporate news, ORG fell 9.4% on pessimistic outlook news, GMG beat estimates but not enough to keep it positive, down 1.3%. NUF fell 9.8% on a trading update and TWE reported as expected with the de-premiumisation charge. On the economic front, local jobs numbers came in at 4.2% slightly higher than expected but participation increased. In China, more dismal data and steel companies pulling back hurt commodities. Asian markets slightly better, Japan up 0.7%, China up 0.8% and HK unchanged. UK GDP in focus.

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The NASDAQ and S&P 500 finished 0.03% and 0.38% higher, extending their winning streak to five sessions. US Inflation data reassured the markets the Fed would start cutting rates next month. The Dow advanced 243 points (+0.61%). Up 303 points at best. Down 28 points at worst. Small firms Russell 2000 eased 0.52%, and the VIX dropped 12.53% as sentiment improved. Treasury yields were mixed. 10Y yield was little changed down 0.7bps and the 2Y yield rose 2.4bps. Markets are now pricing a 37% probability of a 50bps cut and 63% probability of a 25bps cut in September. Megacap tech stocks ended mixed Google fell 2.4% on reports the DoJ is considering breaking up the search engine. While Telsa -3.1%, Microsoft +0.7% and Nvidia +1.7%.

ASX to rise. SPI Futures up 28 points (+0.36%).

• Oil prices in the red after US crude inventories rose unexpectedly. WTI -1.68% and Brent Crude off 1.35%.
• Base metals are broadly higher on rate cut prospects. Copper +0.25%, nickel -0.06%, aluminium +0.60%, zinc +0.93%, lead +0.75%, and tin +0.30%.
• Iron ore down 2.29%, hitting a more than one-year low on disappointing credit data from China dampened sentiment.
• Uranium flat, and lithium down 0.82%.
• Bullion down 0.71%.

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ASX 200 rose another 24 points to 7851 (+0.3%) as iron stocks fell hard on Asian price falls. BHP, RIO and FMG dragging the index back from 7910 high. BHP down 2.8% and FMG crashing 4.6%. Iron ore futures in Singapore sank a further 2.3% to $US96.25 a tonne. Other resource sectors pulled lower. Lithium tried hard to rally, but PLS was unchanged and MIN off 4.6%. Gold miners mixed, RED off 1.4% and BGL down 2.5% with EVN presenting a good set of numbers and rose 6.6%. Oil and uranium not doing too much. Results dominated in industrials; CBA produced a beat and a higher dividend, up 1.3%, with the Big Bank Basket up to $227.58 (+0.7%). MQG rose 0.8%, with insurers slightly firmer, and ASX fell 3.7% as ASIC launched legal proceedings. CSL bounced 2.0%, and healthcare generally was better, with SHL up 2.0% and RHC up 1.0%. PME results delighted the bulls, up 7.2%. Elsewhere, retailers were still in favour, SUL up 2.4% and APE rose 2.1%. Gaming stocks better too, ALL up 1.4% and LNW rising 2.0%. Tech rose, the All-Tech Index up 1.7% with WTC up 2.6% and XRO up 0.5%. REITs also better, GMG up 3.1% with REA up 3.5% too. In corporate results, SVW showed the benefit of owning BLD up 6.8%, ORA rose 5.3% on better results and more M&A interest, and BVS also dId well, up 11.1% on results. Nothing locally on the economic front. RBNZ cut rates as the economy stalls, and the Japanese PM announced he would be stepping down. Asian markets lower, HK and China down 0.5%. 10Y yields fell to 3.93%.Dow and NASDAQ Futures up 0.1%. 

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Wall Street closed higher overnight, hitting a two-week high after soft PPI data reinforced bets of rate cuts in September. The S&P 500 climbed 1.68%, clocking its biggest four-day rally this year, led by tech stocks. Starbucks was the top-performing stock in the index, rallying 24.5% after appointing Chipotle head Brian Niccol as chairman and CEO. The Dow Jones ended near session highs, finishing 409 points higher (+1.04%). Up 436 points at best.

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ASX 200 rose 13 points to 7827 (+0.2%) in quiet cautious trade ahead of US PPI tonight. Results are once again the focal point. Solid numbers from TPW and good guidance helping the retail sector again, with JBH up 4.0% on broker upgrades, PMV rose 1.2% and HVN pushing 1.9% ahead. Banks, as always were the beating heart of the market, with CBA up 1.5% ahead of results tomorrow. WBC and ANZ better on a broker upgrade, and CGF doing well on results today, up 6.5%. REITs mixed with GMG rebounding 0.9% and SGP off 0.7%. Elsewhere tech was mixed, WTC off 0.7% and REA up 1.0% on broker research, the All-Tech Index unchanged. In healthcare, CSL was dumped 4.6% post results as the outlook was sub-par, and Vifor seems to be still facing headwinds. Iron ore miners were slightly better, BHP up 0.3% and RIO rallying 0.5%, lithium again under severe pressure as PLS dropped 4.4% and MIN down 2.3%. LTR down 5.8%. Gold miners were better, bullion heading higher the driver, NEM up 1.5% and NST up 1.7%, with GMD jumping 8.3% following a large block trade. In corporate news, ORA revealed it had been approached with a NBIO at 255c by Lone Star. JHX is battling weak demand in ANZ together with rising wages and freight charges. On the economic front, wage growth came in a little lower than forecast, helping sentiment. In Asia, Japan has now made back all its losses from the extreme volatility last week. Japan up 2.8%, HK up flat and China -0.1%. 10Y yields slipped to 4%. Dow and NASDAQ Futures up 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. 


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