Wall Street started the new trading week with all three major benchmarks closing in the green, despite the tensions in global trade. The Dow Jones gained 0.08%, the S&P500 up 0.41%, while the Nasdaq gained 0.67%. 

European markets closed mixed overnight as President Trump’s 50% steel tariffs inflate EU trade tensions. The STOXX600 closed 0.14% lower, the German DAX down 0.28%, France’s CAC down 0.19%, while the FTSE 100 was slightly higher up just 0.02%. 

Locally on Monday the ASX200 posted a 0.24% loss to start the new trading month lower, as energy and utility stocks weighed on market gains, while only 3 of the 11 sectors ended the day in the green. 

 Brickworks (ASX:BKW) soared over 25% on Monday after the company announced a $14 billion merger with Washington H. Soul Pattinson (ASX:SOL), with the arrangement initially valuing BKW shares at a 10.1% premium to the previous closing price. The market’s reaction signals investors are positive about the strategic outlook for the merger and diversification the new merger offers in the building, property and diversified financials space. 

What to watch today:

• The Australian market is expected to rebound, with the SPI futures suggesting a 0.82% rise at the open this morning. 
• In commodities, 
  • Crude oil has rallied 3.67%, trading at US$63.00 per barrel, following OPEC+’s announcement of a steady production increase. 
  • The price of gold is also in the green, up 2.78% to US$3,380.76 an ounce 
  • While iron ore has dropped over 3%, trading at US$95.95 per tonne, so keep watch of companies such as Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) or Fortescue (ASX:FMG). 

Trading ideas

• Bell Potter maintains its Buy rating on Bega Cheese (ASX:BGA) as the diversified food company continues to execute against its strategy to deliver FY28 EBITDA of more than $250 million. Bell Potter’s price target remains unchanged at $7.00, and at BGA’s current share price of $5.55, this implies 26% share price growth in a year. 
• And Trading Central have identified a bearish signal in Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) indicating that the stock price may fall from the close of $32.64 to the range of $26.25 to $27.50 over 29 days, according to the standard principles of technical analysis.