Market Updates

The ASX 200 fell 21 points to 8666 (0.2%). Banks held firm as resources struggled against a sea of oil troubles. As crude rallies, commodities elsewhere are falling. ANZ results kick us off in the morning and the Big Bank Basket firmed to $ 288.69 (+0.9%). Other financials did well too, SOL up 2.6% with AMP better and insurers also doing well, QBE up 0.8% and MPL up 1.7%. REITs better too, GMG up 2.2% and SCG rising 1.6%. Industrials had a green tinge, WES rallied 0.8%, BXB 2.5% better and REA jumped 1.5%. Tech stocks got a boost from US tech, WTC soaring 3.4% with NXT up 1.7%. The All-Tech Index up 0.5%. Healthcare mixed, CSL falling another 1.1% with RMD in trouble, off 1.9%.

Resources bore the brunt of the selling, BHP off 2.2% with FMG down too, gold miners slid, NST off 2.7% and EVN falling 5.3%. Higher oil prices hurting. S32 collapsed 5.4% on an update from a US project, MIN jumped 3% on an update and lithium stocks slipped lower. LTR down 3.3% and IGO off 1.9%. Oil and gas pushed ahead, WDS up 1.5% and STO up 3.0%. Uranium stocks sold down, PDN off 4.7% and LOT fell 34.0% on production issues. 

In corporate news, EOS reported a $518m contract backlog. 4DX has a cash balance of $282.7m. Operating revenue rose 12% to $5 million with gross margins above 90%. WOW was smashed 7.8% on an update as higher diesel costs are starting to impact profits. The ASX announced Daniel Yip will take over as interim CEO.

In economic news, prices for imports rose 0.1% in the March quarter 2026 but fell 0.3% over the last 12 months. ECB and BoE tonight.

Asian markets slide, Japan down 1.1%, China down 0.3% and HK off 1.3%.

Dow Futures down 280, Nasdaq down 80. Oil hits wartime high.

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended Wednesday lower as oil prices continued their rally amid a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and after the Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged. Traders also awaited quarterly earnings from four of the “Magnificent Seven.”

The 30-stock index fell 280.12 points, or 0.57%, to close at 48,861.81 and notch a fifth straight losing day. The S&P 500 inched down 0.04% to close at 7,135.95, while the Nasdaq Composite crept up 0.04% to 24,673.24.

Oil prices rose for another day on Wednesday after The Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. officials, reported that President Donald Trump has told aides to prepare for an extended blockade of Iran. Prices then took a leg higher after Axios reported that Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and said that the U.S. naval blockade will stay in effect until a deal addressing concerns about the Middle Eastern country’s nuclear program is reached.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures gained 7.17% to settle at $107.16 per barrel. International benchmark Brent crude futures advanced 6.78% to end at $118.80 a barrel.

SPI down 69 - Metals sink - Tech stocks mixed on results - US Futures unchanged.

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The ASX 200 slipped another 24 pts to 8687 (0.3%) as CPI beat expectations. Banks eased back again, the Big Bank Basket fell to $286.25 (-1.1%) with CBA off 1.4% and WBC falling 1.0%. Financials mixed, CGF 1.0% better, MFG finding friends and ZIP up 0.8%. Insurers firmed on bond yields, QBE up 0.5% and MPL up 1.5%. Industrials mixed again, CSL falling around 2.4% and COH dropping 3.2%. TLS fell 0.4%, WOW and COL eased back and SEK dropped 3.0%. Tech stocks were mixed, 360 up 0.9% and WTC falling 2.2%. The All-Tech Index down 0.2%.

In resources, BHP and RIO eased back, rare earths and lithium stocks remain in demand, LYC jumped 5.2% with LTR roaring ahead, up 2.5%. Plenty f quarterlies around too, gold miners mixed, VAU up 1.5% and NEM down 3.2%. Oil and gas stocks better, WDS up 2.0% and STO up 0.4%. Coal stocks pushed back up, NHC up 3.4% but uranium stocks decayed, PDN off 1.2% and DYL down 2.2%.

In corporate news, CDA soared 15.5% on a better-than-expected update, GEM was smashed 31.3% after it suspended operations at around 40 centres. OML jumped 33.0% on a Private Equity NBIO at 140c. 

On the economic front, headline inflation picked up to 1.1% in March from a steady reading in February, pushing the consumer price index to 4.6% on an annual basis. RBA meeting next week.

Asian markets firmed, Japan closed for another holiday. China up 0.6% and HK up 1.4%. 

US Futures better, Nasdaq up 118. Dow up 75. Europe expected to open slightly higher. Fed meeting in focus. 4 Mag Seven stocks report.

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The ASX 200 finished at a three-week low down 56 pts at 8711 (0.6%). Broad-based losses again, Banks managed to hold firm, the Big Bank Basket flat at $289.43 (). CBA rose 0.9% and ANZ up 0.3%. Insurers eased, QBE dropped 1.2% and REITs also under pressure, GMG off 1.8% and SGP falling 2.2%. Tech and industrials also fell, WTC down 1.9% and XRO off 2.0% with the All-Tech Index down 1.6%. TLS succumbed to some profit taking, off 0.9%, WES continued to fall off another 2.1% with ALL falling hard. Healthcare remains in ICU with CSL dropping again, down 2.2% and COH falling 2.4%.4DX continued to unwind its gains, PME also fell. In resources, BHP fell 1.3% and gold miners were under pressure as bullion fell, EVN down 3.0% and NST off 2.9%. Lithium and rare earths found friends, LYC up 3.5% and PLS rising 3.0% as UBS upgraded the sector. Oil and gas also in demand, WDS up 0.8% and coal stock better together with uranium stocks better. PDN up 0.6% and WHC rising 3.9%.

In corporate news, RWC reaffirmed guidance rising 3.6% and DMP stuffed again off 10.7%, after the US parent dropped nearly 9% on disappointing numbers. ORG fell 3.9%, again after a downgrade following yesterday's numbers.

On the economic front, the BoJ held rates at 0.75% with the Fed Meeting kicking off today. 

Asian markets ease, Japan down 1.3%, China off 0.3% and HK off 1%. 

US Futures ease, Nasdaq down 74. Dow up 2. Europe expected to open slightly higher.

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The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite rose to new record highs on Monday, but gains were limited as stalled Iran peace talks and a fresh escalation in the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices higher.

The broad market index added 0.12% and closed at a record level of 7,173.91. The Nasdaq Composite gained 0.20% and notched a closing record of 24,887.10. Both indexes also reached new all-time highs in the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 62.92 points, or 0.13%, to settle at 49,167.79.

SPI down 61 - Commodities slip - Oil up - Quarterlies continue

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The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite both finished Friday at record highs, buoyed by optimism that US–Iran peace talks may soon occur in Pakistan. Since quashed. The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to 7,1658, while the Nasdaq climbed 1.6% to 24,837. In contrast, the Dow Jones slipped 0.2%, closing at 49,231. Intel surged 23% to a new record after posting strong results and sharply beating sales for profits this year. Nvidia rose more than 4%, Amazon added over 3%, and Palantir gained 1.1%. Also, P&G added 1.6% after topping sales forecasts and reiterating its full-year forecast. For the week, the S&P 500 rose 0.6%, the Nasdaq added 1.5%, while the Dow fell 0.4%.

SPI down 3 - Gold up slightly - Oil drifted lower.

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The ASX 200 fell 7 points to 8786 for the fourth straight day. It fought back from earlier losses, as banks steadied and traders squared up before another crucial weekend. The Big Bank Basket back up to $289.81 (+0.3%). Other financials saw some buyers return, SUN up 4.5% as it reaffirmed guidance, MQG jumped 0.7% and MPL also fighting back, up 1.8%. REITs were mixed, GMG fell 0.6% with healthcare finding some buyers to square up after a torrid week. CSL rose 0.8% and COH turned around early losses to close up 2.5%. Still a week to forget. Tech mixed, XRO up 0.3% and REA down 1.5%. Utilities firmed, ORG up 2.6% and APA doing well. Retail fell, APE off 2.5% and TPW falling 3.3%.

Resources were patchy. BHP flat, RIO dropped 0.2% and FMG disappointed falling 5.7% on quarterly. Gold miners too under pressure as oil trundles higher. EVN down 2.2% and NST off 3.5%. Oil and gas stocks pushed ahead, WDS up 2.6% and STO up 1.0%. Uranium stocks saw profit-taking. PDN down 2.6% and BMN falling back a little.

In corporate news, plenty of quarterlies, IGO smacked 17.9% on disappointment on spodumene production at Greenbushes. NXL jumped 15.0% on a court ruling with ASIC’s case dismissed, PLS up 1.6% after a good quarterly number. VUL jumped 3.1% after construction kicked off at Lionheart.

Nothing on the economic front. Oil up for five days in a row. 10-year yields ease to 4.98%

Asian markets mixed, Japan up 0.1%, China down 0.2% and HK up 0.2%. Oil up 1.3% in Asian trade

US Futures ease, Nasdaq up 157 (Intel), Dow down 67. Europe is opening down again, off around 2% this week. Similar to ASX 200, down 1.8% this week.

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US stocks pulled back on Thursday, led by a drop in software and higher oil prices, as investor uncertainty toward the trajectory of the Iran war hovered over the market.

The S&P 500 traded down 0.41% to close at 7,108.40, after earlier hitting a new all-time intraday high. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 0.89% to finish at 24,438.50. It had also scored a new all-time high in the session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 179.71 points, or 0.36%, to finish at 49,310.32.

Shares of IBM and ServiceNow tumbled more than 8% and almost 18%, respectively, after the companies posted their latest quarterly results. While IBM beat on the top and bottom lines, the company maintained its full-year guidance, disappointing investors. For ServiceNow, the company’s subscription revenue growth was hindered by the Middle East conflict.

SPI down 4 – Gold down – Oil up – PLS FMG Quarterlies.

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Disclaimer
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