Market Updates

The ASX opened down, and has stayed down all day (-0.7%). Energy is the clear winner of the major sectors (+1.32%) thanks to a modest rise in oil overnight and a positive update from WDS (+3.5%). Gold stocks opened sharply lower but mostly held the line for the remainder of the day. No doubt gold will be watched closely from here to see if the correction continues. One item of interest today for lithium is PLS CEO Dale Henderson telling Bloomberg that power storage is helping to offset lower EV sales in the US. He said the energy is growing “leaps and bounds”. The sector should keep growing each year for the next decade.  That may have helped PLS finish flat today despite lithium shares overseas down overnight. LTR was down -1.4%. Tech shares got a strong bid with XRO (+1.75%), CPU (+0.43%) and XYZ (2.2%) up and about plus smaller names even better NXL (+3.7%) and WBT (+18.8%). US futures have turned positive since midday.

Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

US stocks were mixed overnight with the Dow up 0.47%, the Nasdaq -0.16% and the SP500 flat. Volume was average, and the VIX continued its retreat back under 20. Netflix was a notable earnings release. Management reported 17% revenue growth for the third quarter, but even that wasn’t enough to hit expectations. The Netflix team said their ad sales division should double revenue over the next year. Seven of the broader US sectors were down, with Consumer Cyclicals (+1.34%) and Industrials (+0.93%) the strongest. Key US companies Coca-Cola, 3M and General Motors all beat expectations. 

ASX set to fall. SPI futures down 47 points (0.52%). 

Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

The Aussie market held steady in afternoon trade, with the XJO index closing out the day with a 0.70% gain. Another record high. Gold stocks opened strong, and stayed strong. NST was up 2.87%. One research house today said that the rise in gold is so big that physical bullion is getting close to taking second spot on the ladder of Australia’s biggest exports. Coal and LNG are trending down. Australia is the third largest gold exporter globally, behind China and Russia. The royalty cheques should help sustain our high government spending, believed to be at an elevated 28% of GDP currently. Some of the lustre came out of the rare earth announcement this morning, with early moves in LYC -7.6% and ARU fading. US futures have turned negative as we get closer to the open. That likely moderated some of the early momentum in the Aussie market this afternoon. 

Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

The ASX 200 rallied 37 points after a weaker start to 9032 (0.4%) as banks broke on through. With CBA up 2.6% and NAB rising 1.4% and the Big Bank Basket up to $292.49 (+1.9%). Insurers bounced back from Friday’s heavy losses, QBE up 3.7% and IAG rising 2.2% with financials also doing well, CGF up 1.1% and ZIP up 4.3% on quarterly numbers. REITS back in favour, GMG up 0.7% and SCG rising 1.5%. Industrials too were back in demand, BXB rallied 2.0% with REA up 1.2% and WES rising 1.0%. Tech stocks a little better for a change, WTC up 0.9% and XRO putting on 0.3%. Resources were generally weaker, gold miners under pressure again on profit taking, NST down 3.6% and EVN falling 4.9%. Iron ore miners eased, but rare earths were back in vogue. LYC up 6.6% and ARU leading, UP 18.5%. PLS rose 2.2% with DTR up 7.5% on Colosseum news. A better day for oil and gas, STO up 2.6% and WDS gaining 0.7%. Uranium stocks slipped, PDN down 4.9% and DYL in deep red, off 18.8% as the CEO quit!

In corporate news, DRO lost 2.6% as quarterly showed a big revenue jump as expected, ZIP were better than forecast and extended the buyback, BAP crashed 17.7% on operational issues and impairments and a downgrade. 

On the economic front, NZ inflation rose to 3%, Chinese GDP came in a 4.8% as expected. 

Asian markets bouncing back hard, Japan up 2.9% on political resolution perhaps, China up 0.7% and HK up 2.2%.

10-year yields rise to 4.14%.

European markets opening around 0.3% higher. Results in focus this week.

Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

Wall St higher overnight as Trump comments on China placated trade fears and regional banks bounced. S&P 500 and Nasdaq up 0.5% on average volume. Both closing near the high. Dow up 238 points. VIX volatility index down 18%. Still above 20 points. It hit its highest level in six months on Thursday night. Trade news dominating headlines in absence of economic data. Trump saying his earlier tweet of 100% tariffs on China isn’t sustainable and still wants to meet with Xi. TACO trade at play yet again. A slight shift in the Russia/Ukraine narrative after Zelenskyy met with Trump. The President appearing more intent on brokering a peace deal (territory concessions) than upgrading Ukraine’s arsenal with Tomahawks.

SPI down 7 - ZIP and DRO out early...

• Resources mostly lower as commodity traders had a mixed reaction to Trump’s China and Ukraine comments. Precious metals down on ‘easing trade war fears’ yet iron ore, copper and base metals also down (would typically bounce if trade war fears were overdone).
• Gold stocks heavily down as bullion fell 1.5% (still up 5.8% for the week). Platinum and silver even worse.

Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

ASX 200 fell back to earth, dropping 73 points to 8995 (0.8%). Hot air is escaping from hot sectors today. Banks slid a little with the Big Bank Basket down to $286.96 (-0.2%). ANZ down 0.5% and MQG falling 1.0%. Insurers were smashed on 10-year yields plunging, QBE down 9.3% and IAG off 6.2%. Financials also under some end of week pressure, GMG gave back some gains falling 2.4% and industrials slid. WES down 0.9% and ALL off 1.4%. Tech under pressure again, WTC down 1.8% and XRO off 0.4%. The All-Tech Index off 1.8%. Resources were a mixed bag, gold hit more records, 9 straight weeks of gains! NST up 2.3% and EVN up 1.9% with rare earth companies coming unstuck. LYC fell 5.7%, at least off lows, ILU withdrew guidance, dropping 2.4% and copper stocks fell. BOC having run hard and collapsed today, off 33.8%. Serious profit taking in the hot stocks today, uranium stocks also under some pressure. Oil and gas stocks slipping again, STO  off 3.3% and WDS down over 2.6%. 

In corporate news, NXG fell 6.1% after raising C$1bn in a global equity offering, VUL dropped 7.7% after a partnership with JordProxa was announced. ERD collapsed 33.6% on an impairment charge related to the US business and guidance downgrade. BHP slipped 0.4% as inventories of Jimblebar fines built up at Chinese ports. 

On the economic front, nothing today. Albanese set to meet Trump next week.

Asian markets fall, Japan down 1.3% China down 1.3% and HK down 1.6%. 

10-year yields fell to 4.08%.

European markets opening lower.

Want to invest with Marcus Today? Our MT20 portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

Stocks closed lower on Thursday, giving up earlier gains, led by declines in bank stocks on worries about bad loans. Traders also juggled persistent trade tensions and an ongoing U.S. government shutdown. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 301.07 points, or nearly 0.7%, to close at 45,952.24. Earlier in the day, the 30-stock index had gained 170 points. The S&P 500 finished 0.6% lower at 6,629.07, giving up a 0.6% gain at the highs of the session. The Nasdaq Composite fell 0.5% to settle at 22,562.54.

Gold soars - SPI down 31

Want to invest with Marcus Today? The Managed Strategy Portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

The ASX 200 hit record highs today, closing at 9068 up 78 points (0.9%) in a very strong session. Today, it was banks and industrials doing much of the heavy lifting — along with a solid contribution from the gold sector. MQG led the charge, jumping over 5% on the back of news it had sold some of its data centre assets — good news all around. The big kicker came at 11:30 am, with jobs data showing an unemployment rate of 4.5%. That gives the RBA plenty of room to cut rates further on Melbourne Cup Day. Across the industrials, gains were broad-based: WES up 1.3%, WOW up 1.9% , GMG up 4.9% and buoyed by enthusiasm for data centre exposure following Macquarie’s sales. CSL added 1.8%. TLS rose 0.4%. The banks were steady if unspectacular, while insurers and wealth managers shone. HUB soared 10.5%. AMP also rallied 8.5% on the back of a positive quarterly update.

The technology sector, however, missed the memo on record highs — WTC and XRO both slipped around 1.4%, continuing their recent stumbles.

The resources sector was busy once again. BHP edged slightly higher, while FMG and RIO eased. The gold miners were the standout as gold hit fresh record highs. NEM up 3.4% and EVN up 3.3%. The rare earths and lithium stocks came under pressure after Scott Bessent talked of an extension of the 100% tariffs deadline if China eased export restrictions. LYC fell 5.7%. Other rare earth names substantially also weakened in sympathy.

In corporate news, MYX rose 11.3% after it received court approval for its takeover by Cosette, with no wriggle room left — though FIRB approval is still required. RIO is searching for strategic partners to develop a huge copper deposit inBougainville. TWE edged 1.8% higher after its AGM, where Chairman John Mullen discussed ongoing challenges and sales developments in China.

On the economic front, the jobs report confirmed unemployment rising to 4.5%, with a steady participation rate. That combination pushed bond yields lower, the Australian dollar weaker, and equity markets higher — a triple treat for investors heading into Friday and more US results.

Asian markets rise, Japan up 0.5% China up 0.1% and HK down 0.4%.

10-year yields fell to 4.17% on jobs data.

European markets slightly lower. UK GDP today.

Want to invest with Marcus Today? The Managed Strategy Portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.

Continued good news from Wall Street bank earnings in overnight trade. The SP500 closed up +0.40% and the Nasdaq +0.66%. The VIX moderated down -0.82%. Morgan Stanley (+4.7%) and Bank of America (+4.4%) added to the positive earnings released from Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase yesterday. The six Wall Street banks raked in almost US$41 billion in the past quarter, and up 19% from this time last year, according to the Wall Street Journal.  The tech capex boom rolls on, with ASML reporting orders of 5.4 billion euros, up 100% on last year. Macqaurie Asset Management has sold data centre assets in a deal with US$40 billion, the biggest ever for this asset class. The buyers part of the transaction include BlackRock, Nvidia and Microsoft. Yields on 30 year bonds and the ten year note were little changed.

ASX set to open flat. SPI down 5 points. 

Gold hit is 47th record close of the year at $4,201 per ounce. Silver hit $51 per ounce and is now up 76% in 2025. US Treasury Secretary said the US may considering extending tariff relief to China if they are willing to get rid of their rare earth controls.

Want to invest with Marcus Today? The Managed Strategy Portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you.

If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.
 
 Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.