The ASX 200 closed up 43 points at 9,020, as promising news from the Middle East over the weekend encouraged buyers back into the market. Stronger US futures helped sentiment, while a fall in the oil price added to the optimism.

The banking sector shrugged off early losses, with NAB up 0.7% and WBC up 0.8%. Financials were generally firmer, with MQG edging 0.8% higher and the insurers also finishing in positive territory. The Big Bank Basket up to $294.96 (+0.3%).

Elsewhere, industrials caught a bid, with QAN up 3.7% on the back of lower oil prices, SGH also performing well, and WES rising 1.5%. Retail stocks were firmer, with JBH up 0.6%, while WOW and COL also drifted higher.

In the technology sector, WTC rose 1.2% and XRO gained 1.9%. Healthcare also had a better session, with CSL up 1.0% and RMD rising 1.6%.

In resources, the iron ore majors were mixed, with BHP 0.7% higher, while RIO and FMG both eased. The gold sector was slightly firmer, with EVN up 1.7% and GGP gaining 1.1%. Once again, lithium stocks came under a little pressure, with PLS down 1.7% and MIN off 0.4%.

Meanwhile, oil and gas stocks slipped as crude prices fell, with WDS down 1.4% and STO easing1.9%. Uranium stocks were mixed, with PDN up X%.

In corporate news, SDF rose 2.9% after KKR confirmed it was proceeding with its takeover offer, having largely completed due diligence. FPR also jumped 17.3% following a non-binding indicative offer from SG Fleet.

There was nothing of note on the local economic front.

Asian markets were better, with the Nikkei 225 down 1.1%, Hong Kong unchanged, China down 1%, and Korea off around 5.5%. US futures were firmer, with the Dow up 294 points and the Nasdaq up 250 points. European markets are set to open around 1% higher. UK closed for August Bank Holiday.

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Wall St rose on Friday night, closing out one of the wildest weeks of the AI boom with a decisive snapback. Dow Jones up 277 points. S&P 500 up 0.70%. Nasdaq up 1.00%. Russell 2000 down 0.50%. VIX down 6.44%.

ASX set to fall on Monday. SPI futures down 85 points. That was before US-Iran talks - Oil fell hard - FPR bid.

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The ASX 200 closed up a mere 9 points at 8,978 (0.1%), as a solid start gave way to caution ahead of the weekend. There was a bounce today in some of the oversold small and mid-cap stocks as the banks eased back, with CBA down 0.4% and ANZ down 0.5%, and the Big Bank Basket falling to $294.04 (0.5%). Financials were slightly firmer, with MQG leading the charge, up 1.2%. Other financials also bounced well, but insurers slipped, with QBE down 2.5% and IAG down 1.5%.

Elsewhere, industrials were somewhat weaker, with WOW and COL seeing sellers, together with REA, CAR and SEK. Healthcare was also under pressure, with CSL down 3.8% and RMD falling 1.5%. Technology stocks eased back in the software space, but the hardware and data centre sector firmed, with WTC down 4.2% and NXT up 4.5%.

In resources, buyers returned for BHP and RIO, together with the gold miners, which were stronger as EVN rose 1.9% and NEM gained 3.5%. Lithium stocks, though, remain weak, with PLS down 1.4% and LTR continuing to fall from grace. Oil and gas stocks flat, with WDS up 0.2% and STO up 0.1%, while coal stocks also slipped as uranium stocks bounced slightly.

In corporate news, FMG took a $746.8m hit on its Iron Bridge project. ORG was up 0.9% with Octopus adding 2.2 million customers, while OBM had a good day as it expanded the footprint of its Little Gem Gold Project. MGH also got the tick of approval to sell its construction business to Heidelberg.

In economic news, China factory activity unexpectedly contracted in July.

Asian markets were better, with the Nikkei 225 up 4.3%, Hong Kong down 0.2%, China up 1.2%, and Korea up a record 17.4%. US futures were firmer, with the Dow up 242 points and the Nasdaq up 322 points. European markets are set to open around 0.5% higher.

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US stock indices closed higher on Thursday, rebounding from the previous session's losses as chipmakers rallied and investors assessed earnings. The S&P 500 gained 1.7%, the Nasdaq jumped 3.4%, and the Dow added 614 points. Microsoft surged 15.5% after reporting 43% cloud revenue growth, its strongest since 2022, while keeping capital expenditure guidance broadly in line with expectations. Chipmakers jumped after yesterday's selloff. Micron rose 18.4%, AMD gained 13%, Intel added 11.3%, and Sandisk soared 26% as investors bought the dip on expectations the AI-driven rally still has room to run. Oracle jumped 8.3% after expanding its Google Gemini AI partnership. Those gains outweighed a disappointing forecast from Meta (-7.9%). Treasury yields remained high despite soft Q2 GDP growth. The Fed held rates yesterday, but Chair Warsh's reluctance to signal a rate hike raised concerns that inflation could be higher for longer. Apple (-1.4%) and Amazon (+3.9%) report later.

SPI up 99 - FMG Quarterly - Gold up - Quarterlies continue

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The ASX 200 gave back 71 points to 8,968 (-0.8%) as profit-taking set in across the board. Banks were mixed, with CBA and ANZ down slightly, while NAB and WBC edged higher. MQG, though, fell 1.5% after US investment banks weakened overnight, and financials generally were softer, with QBE down 0.9% and IFT off 1.7%. REITs also came under pressure, with SCG down 1.3% and VCX falling 1.5%.

In the industrials, we saw some selling after the strong gains of recent days, with WES down 1.5%, JBH off 1.6%, and TLS falling 0.6%. Healthcare stocks also gave back a little ground, with CSL down 0.1% and SIG easing 0.7%. Tech stocks, however, were slightly firmer, with XRO up 1.4% and WTC rallying 6.7%. Other industrials also slipped, with QAN down 3.0% and SGH off 2.5%.

Meanwhile, in resources, BHP fell 1.7%, and FMG was weaker, although RIO rose 1.8% following positive broker comments after yesterday's result. Gold stocks eased on interest rate concerns, with NST down 3.3% and NEM off 1.8%. Some buying emerged in lithium stocks, with PLS up 2.7% and MIN rising 3.9% following better-than-expected results. Oil and gas stocks were steady, while uranium stocks eased slightly.

In corporate news, DMP beat expectations slightly and shorts rushed to cover, up 9.1%. BOE fell 2.5% despite meeting production guidance. ALD rose 0.2% after announcing better-than-expected earnings from its refinery, while VNT slipped 2.9% following the appointment of a new director. In economic news, building approvals rose 7.2% to 18,328, while the value of total residential building work increased 15.1%.

Asian markets were mixed, with the Nikkei 225 up 0.2%, Hong Kong down 0.4%, China off 2.1%, and Korea down 0.9%. US futures were slightly firmer, in line with fair value, with the Dow up 74 points and the Nasdaq up 105 points. European markets are set to open lower.

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US stock indices closed lower on Wednesday as investors following the Federal Reserve's policy decision and another selloff in chipmakers ahead of major tech earnings. The S&P 500 fell 1.5%, the Nasdaq 100 lost 2.1%, and the Dow shed 1,153 points. Microsoft shed 0.7% while Meta fell 1.3% ahead of their earnings reports after the bell, which investors are watching for signals on AI infrastructure spending. Concerns that AI-related capital spending has become excessive continued to pressure semiconductor stocks after disappointing results from SK Hynix. Nvidia fell 3.5%, Micron lost 9.9%, AMD dropped 5.5%, and Applied Materials slid 8.4%. The Fed left interest rates unchanged, as expected, though three FOMC members dissented in favor of a rate hike. Meanwhile, rising oil prices following renewed US-Iran strikes added to inflation concerns, pressuring the Dow. Visa gained 0.6% after reporting stronger-than-expected quarterly revenue.

Meta down 11% after hours - Microsoft better - US Futures better - SPI down 51 - Quarterlies continue

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The ASX 200 put in another solid performance, rising 91 points to 9039, as iron ore results cheered the resource sector and industrials continued to push higher. The market also took comfort from the latest CPI reading, which came in below expectations and should ease some of the pressure on the RBA to raise rates on 11 August. The banks gave back some early gains, the Big Bank Basket at $295.53 up 0.1%, with ANZ up 1.37%, while other financials were mixed as ASX rallied 1.43%. AMP was showing a clean pair of heels, rising 2.34%. REITs also enjoyed a good session as bond yields fell, with CHC up 2.96% and SGP gaining 4.96%.

Industrials also had a strong day, with retailers rallying on rate-cut expectations. JBH rose 4.67% and LOV also found some friends, up 7.88%. The technology sector performed well, with WTC up 2.33% and XRO rising 4.11%. REA, CAR and SEK also enjoyed solid gains, while TLX climbed 0.21%. Both WOW and COL had good sessions, while healthcare was especially firm. CSL rose 7.15% on encouraging news surrounding its Horizon 2 manufacturing technology, and RMD rallied 3.59%.

Resources painted a more mixed picture. BHP rose 1.36%, while RIO rallied on the back of better-than-expected results and a stronger-than-expected dividend. FMG also pushed higher. One casualty was LTR, which fell 7.92% following a disappointing quarterly update. Gold miners were mixed, with NST up 2.22% and NEM flat. Rare earths continued to struggle, with LYC falling heavily once again. Oil and gas stocks edged higher as tensions in the Middle East escalated and the oil price firmed, with WDS up 1.39% and STO flat. Uranium stocks were mixed.

In corporate news, there was no shortage of quarterly updates. CSL responded strongly to progress on Horizon 2. PPT rejected a revised takeover offer from EQT, while MIN delivered a solid June quarter. LTR ended the June quarter with $561m in cash, although production, costs and guidance disappointed the market. WDS also tightened its FY26 production guidance to 174–185mmboe.

In economic news, headline inflation slowed to 0.6% in June, down from 1.4% in April, with annual inflation easing to 3.8%, below expectations and down from 4.0%.

Asian markets were weaker, Nikkei 225 down 1.5%, HK up 1.56% and China down 0.84% - Korea down 5.98%. US futures weaker, Dow down 58 points Nasdaq down 137. .European markets set to open lower. Fed focus.

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US equity indices closed mixed on Tuesday as chipmakers extended their selloff, while earnings and falling oil prices supported investors' sentiment. The S&P 500 gained 0.2% and the Dow Jones rose 537 points while the Nasdaq 100 fell 1%. Concerns over slowing AI infrastructure spending and the circular nature of data center investment weighed on compute and memory chipmakers. Micron slumped 8.8%, AMD lost 8.1%, Intel fell 5.9%, and Sandisk tumbled 14.2%. The sector also came under pressure after the strong IPO of China's CXMT in Shanghai boosted optimism over rising competition. Meanwhile, health and consumer staples outperformed. Microsoft was up 1.1% and Meta closed little changed ahead of earnings on Wednesday. Coca-Cola soared 5% after an earnings and revenue beat and a hike in its full-year outlook. Eli Lilly was up 1.9%, Berkshire Hathaway gained 3.1%, and Visa rose 1.1% ahead of its earnings release.

SPI up 74 - RIO results - SK Hynix Results - CPI at 11.30am. New Iranian strikes. 

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The ASX 200 shrugged off early losses to close 54 points higher at 8948 (0.6%), with the banks proving resilient yet again. CBA rose 1.5% and NAB gained 0.7%, taking the Big Bank Basket to $295.23 (+1.3%) Other financials also had a better day, with HUB up 1.8% and ASX rising 1.5%.

REITs also performed well, with GMG up 0.2% and SGP gaining 2.7%. Industrials were firm, led by a rebound in the tech sector, with XRO up 3.7%, WTC up 8.1% and TNE rising 3.3%. TLS had a good day, up 1.6%, while retailers also performed well, with JBH up 3.3% and WES gaining 2.1%. Healthcare was also in the pink, with CSL up 2.7% and RMD rising 3.4%.

It was a different story in resources, with BHP down 1.2% and RIO falling 2.5%. Gold stocks gave back some of yesterday's gains, with GMD down 1.1% and EVN easing 1.8%. Lithium stocks remained under pressure, with PLS down 4.9% and MIN falling 2.9%.

Oil and gas stocks enjoyed a better session, with WDS rallying 2.8% and STO up 1.2%, although coal stocks continued to drag. Uranium stocks were also back under pressure as part of the AI trade unwind, with PDN down 4.4% and DYL falling 2.2%.

In corporate news, DRO fell 13.2% after warning that margins would come under pressure. WEB surged 17.1% following plans to buy back up to $90m of its shares and a stronger forecast for first-half earnings. ILU had a good day despite warning that Balranald production would be lower than previously expected, while WHC eased 4.6% after finishing the year at the top end of production guidance.

In economic news, the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence Index fell 4.4 points last week to 71.2.

Asian markets were weaker, Nikkei 225 down 4.4%, HK down 0.1% and China down 2.8% - Korea down 10.4%. US futures mixed Dow up 4 Nasdaq down 290

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US stock indices closed mixed on Monday as chipmakers extended their selloff ahead of this week's Fed decision and a busy slate of economic data and corporate earnings. The S&P 500 ended little changed, the Nasdaq 100 lost 0.3%, while the Dow gained 263 points. Nvidia fell 5% after announcing a $500 billion AI memory chip supply agreement with SK Hynix. Separately, the company guaranteed $250 billion for OpenAI to lease computing capacity from a major data center project, reviving concerns that circular AI financing deals could unravel if hyperscalers curb capital spending. Micron (-2.2%), AMD (-5.2%), Intel (-0.7%), and Sandisk (-11%) also declined. Meanwhile, easing concerns over tight financial conditions helped the Dow. The US and Iran paused strikes over the weekend, sending oil prices and Treasury yields lower, easing expectations of a Fed rate hike this week. Apple (+1.2%), Meta (-0.2%), Amazon (-0.3%), and Microsoft (+1.9%) traded mixed ahead of earnings releases.

SPI down 20 - Oil off 9% - Gold pushes slightly higher - Quarterly results in focus.

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