Market Updates

Stocks soared Wednesday after President Donald Trump suspended attacks on Iran for two weeks, pausing a five-week conflict that closed a crucial waterway for global energy supplies. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average ripped 1,325.46 points higher, or 2.85%, to 47,909.92. That was the benchmark’s best day since April 2025, when Trump first backed down from the severity of his initial tariff announcement. 

The S&P 500 popped 2.51% to 6,782.81, and the Nasdaq Composite surged 2.80% to 22,635.00.  West Texas Intermediate crude futures tumbled more than 16% to close at $94.41 per barrel, its biggest daily drop since April 2020. International benchmark Brent for June delivery lost about 13% to settle at $94.75 

SPI down 22 - US Futures ease after hours. Gold slips back - Copper soars.

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The ASX 200 jumped out of the blocks again on the ceasefire. The ASX 200 jumped 223 points to 8952 (2.6%). Interestingly, not much intraday volatility. Everything was risk on as peace breaks out. Long term or short term is yet to be seen. Oil prices fell hard, and equities rallied across the board. Banks rallied again with CBA up 1.9% and the Big Bank Basket jumped to $305.03 (2.4%). MQG had a great day up 5.6% with other financials doing great. ZIP up 19.5% and NWL up 10.0%. REITS soared as yields dropped, GMG up 7.1% and CHC up 4.0% with industrials doing well too. QAN up 9.4% and VGN up 11.7% with WES rallying 3.3% and CSL even up 1.3%. REA and tech stock jumped, WTC up 10.7% and XRO up 6.5% with the All-Tech Index up 6.6%. Defensives slipped, TLS down slightly, ORG and AGL fell with retail jumping on hopes for lower petrol prices. 

Resources on fire, BHP up 3.0% and RIO rallying another 4.4%. Gold miners jumped as bullion took up the baton, NST up 7.1% and EVN up 10.0% with RMS rallying 9.6%. Lithium not left out, PLS up 1.7%, LTR roaring 8.4% ahead. Rare earths up strongly, LYC up %. Oil and gas stocks fell, WDS down 10.5% and STO falling again. Coal stocks also smacked down with uranium stocks back in focus, PDN up 8.5% and LOT up 11.7%.

In corporate news, DRO dropped 13.5% on news that the CEO and chair will be stepping down. BGL raced up 18.9% on production numbers as did RRL. PME also doing well following a five-year $23m contract with the University of Maryland Medical System. FLT also doing well on a deal to sell Pedal. 

On the economic front, dwelling commencements rose 8%.

Asian markets soar, Japan up 5.4%, HK up 3.1% and China up 3.4%. Korean KOSPI up 6.9%

10-year yields fall to 4.87%. 

US Futures jump Nasdaq up 812, Dow up 1110. Europe opening significantly better.

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U.S. stock futures jumped after President Donald Trump said he was suspending Iran attacks for two weeks just ahead of his 8 p.m. ET deadline, pausing a five-week conflict that has closed a crucial waterway for global energy supply and sent equity prices reeling.

Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 718 points, or 1.5%. S&P 500 futures added 1.6%, and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 1.7%.

During the regular session, the S&P 500 eked out a gain of 0.08% as traders bet that a ceasefire could be achieved. The Nasdaq Composite inched 0.10% higher on Tuesday, while the Dow lost 85.42 points.

The S&P 500 was 5.5% off its all-time high reached earlier this year through Tuesday’s close. At one point last month, the benchmark neared a 10% correction before rebounding on optimism Trump would find some kind of off-ramp to the conflict. 

Gold rose and SPI up 13 but that was before Trump TACOed.

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The ASX 200 jumped out of the blocks, but was well off highs of 8804, closing up 149 points at 8729 (1.7%). A serious bout of optimism as the Trump deadline approaches. Banks firmed with the Big Bank Basket up to $297.88 (2.3%). CBA up 2.4% and MQG charging 3.2% ahead. Other financials were mixed, HUB up 3.3% and ZIP gaining 6.0%. REITs mixed too, GMG up 0.7% with industrials firming, WES up 1.3% and ALL rising 1.3% with tech doing better, WTC up 3.4% and XRO rallying 1.7%. Healthcare mixed, CSL up 1.0% and retail flat. GYG had a good day as shorts covered on a trading update, TLS fell 0.4% and supermarkets mixed. In resources, BHP, RIO and FMG all did well, the big Australian leading the charge, up 3.3%. Gold miners pushed ahead, NST up 2.0% and GGP rising 4.0%. Rare earths did better, LYC up 4.6% and lithium stocks also pushing ahead. Uranium stocks mixed, LOT fell 2.2% on production issues and PDN squeezed 0.8% higher. Oil and gas stocks generally better, WDS up 2.5%.

In corporate news, CSL said most of its products would be exempt from the 100% tariffs, RCE appointed Tim Ford (Ex-TWE CEO) to the board.

On the economic front, household spending rose 0.3% month-on-month on a current price, seasonally adjusted basis.

Asian markets steadied, Japan unchanged, HK down 0.7% and China down 0.2%. 10-year yields 4.99%.

US Futures ease ahead of deadline, Nasdaq down 139, Dow down 122. Europe opening slightly better.

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Markets are at something of a standstill again. We know why. We have another potential deal/timeline on the table from President Trump. The deadline is 8pm Tuesday night, US time. That would be Wednesday morning for us here in Australia. If Tehran doesn't accept a deal, the US could “rain hell” on the country. Iran rejected a ceasefire and proposed 10 clauses they want to see. Trump rejected those too. It's unlikely we will see much happen while this looms over the world.

Overnight, seven out of the 10 sectors were positive for the S&P 500. Energy led the way, followed by Financials and Industrials. Defensive components Healthcare and Utilities were slightly weaker.

Most Material stocks were flat to down. Gold was slightly lower, so gold stocks drifted lower. Copper and uranium were neither here nor there. You could say the same about Big Tech. The Chip stocks showed more life. Latest figures suggest the semiconductor sector is well-positioned to reach US$1 trillion in annual revenue this year. US financials continue to show resilience.

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The S&P 500 advanced 0.72% and closed at 6,575.32, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.16% and settled at 21,840.95. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 224.23 points, or 0.48%, to end at 46,565.74.

President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social Wednesday morning that Iran’s president has asked the U.S. for a ceasefire. However, the U.S. will consider the offer when the Strait of Hormuz is “open, free, and clear,” Trump added, writing that “until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”

This comes after the president told reporters at the White House late Tuesday that he expects the U.S. military forces will leave Iran in “two or three weeks.”

Oil prices eased following that comment. West Texas Intermediate futures settled down 1.24% to close at $100.12 per barrel and Brent crude futures lost 2.7% to settle at $101.16 a barrel.

SPI up 19 - Gold higher - POTUS Speech at Noon.

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The ASX 200 jumped 190 points to 8672 (2.2%) on US/Iranian news and a spectacularly strong US bounce. End of month and short covering helping lead us in. Confidence built throughout the day. Resources roared back to life as the USD fell slightly, and oil prices steadied. BHP up 4.3% and RIO up 3.5% with FMG joining in up 3.8%. Lithium stocks raced ahead, PLS up 3.5% and MIN rising 5.2% with the gold sector rebounding hard. NEM up 4.5% and EVN jumping 8.2% on gold and copper rises. S32 jumped on aluminium exposure, rare earths also doing well, ARU up 8.9%. Uranium stocks rallied hard, PDN up 6.9% and NXG jumped 6.7%. Oil and gas stocks took a pause, STO up 0.1%. Coal stocks steady.

In the banks, a decent rise with the Big Bank Basket at $290.26 (+2.0%).MQG soared 3.3% and other financials also did well, ZIP up 10.7%. REITs mixed, GMG rising 2.3%. Tech stocks gained, XRO up 2.5% and REA up 2.5%. Retail better, JBH up 1.4% and travel stocks jumped, FLT up 4.8% and QAN taking off. The All-Tech Index up 3.3%.

In corporate news, APE rose after entering into agreements to acquire two Audi dealers in Melbourne. PRN rose 4.1% on a new CEO. SGR blipped 8.7% higher after Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium took full control of Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf precinct.

In economic news, dwelling approvals rose 29.7% in February to 19,022, driven by a surge in private apartments.

Asian markets eased, Japan rose 4.5%, HK up 2.0%, and China up 1.4%.

10 -year yields fell to 4.91% on peace hopes.

US futures: Dow up 76, Nasdaq up 113

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Disclaimer
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US stocks rose on Tuesday following new reports that gave investors hope that the Iran war could soon come to an end. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1,125.37 points, or 2.49%, and closed at 46,341.51. The move came after an unconfirmed report said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is open to ending the war with guarantees. The S&P 500 gained 2.91% to end at 6,528.52, and the Nasdaq Composite advanced 3.83% to 21,590.63. Each of the three indexes posted their best day since May.

It was end of month and quarter too.

SPI jumped 130 pts – Gold up – Resources to do well.

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MT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio
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Principles – How We Think About Investing
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http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast

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Disclaimer
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