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Today we talk two sectors that should have good results in August, and we look at the RBA, the Budget and the banks with ANZ's results a bit below expectations with the stock down 2% but the dividend was better-than-expected (ex dividend on Monday). Westpac ex dividend on Thursday next week. NAB results tomorrow, Macquarie results on Friday. The rest of the banks looking pretty good this morning. Travel struggling with Flight Centre down another 3% with Webjet following. RBA meeting yesterday was positive. Housing market is going off. US Jobs numbers on Friday the main release to come this week. 

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ASX 200 up 39 points to 7068 (o.6%) as miners rally hard and RBA keeps rates unchanged. Upgrades economic forecasts but record low rates continue for a while to come. BHP rose 2.5% with gold miners also doing well. Banks flat lined with CBA the winner as the other three sold down slightly. Plenty of conferences and business updates to keep investors on their toes. FLT fell 4.6% on its update and NCK to double profit but fell 2.6%

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The bull market quietly continues. RBA Meeting today. We look at the Westpac results yesterday - a good start to the banks results season - ANZ tomorrow and NAB on Thursday. We also look at the Macquarie results on Friday. US jobs numbers the main release this week (Friday). A Macquarie conference sees something like 100 Australian companies presenting this week - many of which will release any information as an announcement - unlikely to be negative. Some positive company updates today from SUL and SEK. Not so good from FLT, NCK and DHG. 

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ASX 200 gives up gains to close up a mere 3 points to 7029 after a strong performance from the banks as WBC rose 5% on better cash earnings and a cost out program of $8bn cheered plus a all-important 58c dividend. Big miners in the red as Asia closes for May Holidays. BHP lost 1.4%. In economic news, house prices are cooling slightly and Job ads better again.  RBA tomorrow.

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All eyes on the bank results this week, with the sector resurrection tipped to continue after a stellar 12-month recovery. Westpac kicked things off this morning, up 4% in early trade, and  ANZ, NAB and Macquarie all follow this week. We also have results from REA later in the week, with all eyes on the housing market outlook, as well as an RBA policy meeting and the following statement of monetary policy, among a number of economic releases. 

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ASX 200 finishes the month in a sorry state closing down 56 points to 7026. Down 35 points for the week and up 3.5% for the month. ANZ slipped after a write down, BPT were dusted by a reserve downgrade falling 24% and Slattery's 3DP cratered by 19% as quarterlies and production reports weighed heavily today.

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ASX 200 closes up 18 to 7082 in quiet narrow range trading. Mining stocks gained as production reports dropped and gold miners found some friends again. BHP rose 0.9% whilst FMG was relatively unchanged on production numbers showing on track for record shipments. Banks were a little nervous ahead of next week's results and APT jumped 3.5% on a NZ deal. The index is now up 3.7% for the month. President Biden's speech tickled US futures slightly higher and we followed with a muted response.

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The market behaving itself again, up nearly 4% for the month. FOMC meeting predictable, CPI number yesterday lower-than-expected, nothing to concern ourselves with. Today I have extended our lesson in risk and given you tables of the least risky stocks in the top 200 as well as the most risky stocks in the top 200 and the most risky stocks in the All Ordinaries index (top 500). We then look at pandemic beneficiaries. Over the last couple of weeks a number of companies at the pointy end of the pandemic have told us that the boom they experienced won't last forever and their share prices fell over. Today we look at other companies at risk and ask how many bull bars do you need, how many sofas can you sit on, and how much pizza can you eat? Actually, quite a lot says Chris and Henry.

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ASX 200 closes up 31 points to 7065 on very good CPI numbers below forecasts and giving the RBA plenty of room to breathe. Banks in focus with the CBA up 1% and plenty of business updates and quarterlies to keep investors on their toes. KGN rose 7% on a clarification of its update yesterday and ART beating prospectus also having a good day up 7.8% BNPL sidelined with All Tech up only 0.3%. FOMC and US results to continue.

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Today we look at the ETF portfolio and learn some lessons about how to invest for the long term. I also give you a quick lesson in risk, how to measure it and how to compare investments and fund managers taking risk into account. Otherwise there is plenty on the calendar but not much happening in the market. We talk about peak earnings for pandemic beneficiaries and await the FOMC, the RBA, the banks results season and the continuing US results season.