Market Updates

ASX 200 retreats significantly as bank weakness, retail woes and commodity issues pushed us down 83 points to 7722 (1.1%). CBA fell 2.2% on quarterly update, WBC crashed on ex-dividend down 5.6% with the Big Bank Basket down to $205.72 (-2.4%). MQG was a patch of green with REITs off too, GMG falling 1.67%, MGR falling 1.0%. Insurers steady QBE up 0.6% and SUN better as yields rallied to 4.35%. Flight to safety. Healthcare under pressure, CSL down 1.0% with RMD falling 2.3% and tech off as WTC fell 1.1% and XRO down 1.4%. The All-Tech Index fell 0.6%. Industrials swooned on some retail updates at Macquarie Conference, JBH down 2.5%, SUL off 5.5% and WES down 3.5%. QAN still finding some friends up 1.5%. In resources, BHP and FMG down around 0.8% with lithium stocks a little weaker, PLS down 0.2%. Gold miners under pressure, DEG pulling $600m from gold investors not helping. NST down 0.8% and RED off 1.1%. Oil and gas better, WDS up 0.8% and STO up 0.9% on new government commitment to gas. On the corporate front, BBN spat the dummy dropping 23.4% on a up(down)date. SUL down 5.5% on its sales update, and TPW gave up some serious ground on its latest sales numbers, falling 17.9%. JDO fell 0.4% on an update and ORI exploded 0.6% higher on its update. On the economic front, better Chinese export numbers. Locally weekly payrolls jobs down 0.6% in the month since March 16th. Asian better with Japan up 0.1% and HK up 1.1% with China up 0.9%. Yields higher at 4.35% in 10s.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

US equities finished mixed overnight in another low-volume trading session. The Dow extended its winning streak to six days, the longest since December, advancing 172 points. Dow up 210 points at best. Dow down 69 points at worst. The S&P 500 ended muted, remaining below the 5,200 snapping its four sessions of gains, while the NASDAQ fell 0.18%, pressured by losses in Tesla -1.7% on an autopilot probe, and Intel -2.2% after announcing its sales would take a hit after the US revoked some of the chipmaker's licences a move Beijing complained was going too far in the name of national security. Treasury yields moved up a touch after the $42bn auction of 10Y bonds saw tepid demand. In Fed speak, Fed’s Collins said getting to the 2% may take longer than expected, reinforcing the higher for longer mantra. No meaningful economic data overnight, markets now waiting for inflation data next week for insights into the economy.ASX to fall. SPI Futures down 19 points (-0.24%). CBA in focus on trading update.Base metals lower. Nickel -2.91%, Aluminium -0.74%, Zinc -1.80%, Lead -0.89% and Tin -2.05%.Copper eased 1.42% after Indonesia announced that it would extend copper export permits for Freeport, which will help ease shortages.Oil prices edged higher after US crude stockpiles fell last week.  WTI +0.75%, and Brent Crude +0.95%.10Y Bond Yields – US 4.500%, Australia 4.326%, and Germany 4.131%.Currencies – AUD -0.03%, USD Index +0.10%, Euro +0.01%, and Bitcoin -2.34%.Gold fell 0.22%, pressured by firming bond yields and USD.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

ASX 200 trades quietly up 11 points at 7805 (+0.1%) after a great day yesterday. Banks stalled close to record highs, NAB fell 0.5%, with ANZ up 1.2% on broker upgrades, MQG unchanged with the Big Bank Basket up to $210.71 (+0.4%). Financials mixed as PPT cratered 7.1% after a strategic review presentation. REITs better, although GMG fell 0.3% on an update, SGP up 1.1% with industrials slightly firmer, REA up 0.8% with TCL up 1.4% and WOR pushing ahead 1.2%. Tech seeing a late surge, the All-Tech Index up 0.5%. Resources mixed, Iron ore miners fell as prices eased back. FMG down 0.5%, RIO off 1.2% and MIN off 0.7%. PLS up 0.2% in the lithium space but PMT continuing the run from yesterday’s drill results. Golds firm but idle as DEG went to shareholders and instos to raise $600m. Oil and gas stocks firmed, WDS up 0.1% and STO up 1.1%. On the corporate front, PPT announced some big changes, a sale of its name and Rob Adams to retire after doing a great job. Not. Olam upped its bid in NAM as a two-horse race continues. QIP saw a competing bid from IPH up 5.4%, and QAN up 0.8% on record demand for premium seats. FLT, ABB, DGH, and JIN have all reaffirmed guidance. LLL announced a deal to sell the entire Malian mine to Ganfeng for US$342.7bn (43cps). On the economic front, plenty of RBA analysis. Asian markets saw some selling, with Japan off 1.5%, HK falling 0.7% and China down 0.5%. 10y yields 4.30%. Dow Futures down 6 points. NASDAQ Futures down 3 points. Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

US stocks closed edged higher overnight, just finishing above the flatline in a fairly uneventful day of trade. The Dow rose 32 points (+0.08%), rising for its fifth consecutive session its longest winning streak since December 2023. Dow up 125 points at best, and down 12 points at worst. S&P 500 briefly hit 5,200, finishing 0.13% higher, marking a four-day winning streak, while the NASDAQ slipped 0.10% in late afternoon trade. Treasury yields eased a touch, while the $58bn 3Y note auction garnered solid demand, ahead of this weeks $42bn 10Y note auction tomorrow. In Fed speak, Fed’s Kashkari said he questions the restrictiveness of current policy given inflation data and was the latest central banker to talk about a higher neutral rate, raising his projection by 50bps to 2.50%.ASX to rise. SPI Futures up 14 points (+0.18%).Base metals are higher across the board. Nickel +0.31%, Aluminium +0.43%, Zinc +1.32%, Lead +1.44% and Tin +2.55%.Copper advanced +1.22%, pushing towards two-year highs as focus returned to tight supplies and hopes of stronger demand from China.  Gold is off 0.39%, letting go of gains made in the previous session as the market focuses on the Fed's rate cut prospects.   Oil prices edged lower on signs of easing supply concerns. WTI -0.16% and Brent Crude -0.63%.Currencies – AUD +0.02%, USD Index +0.29%, Euro +0.01%, and Bitcoin -0.68%.10Y Bond Yields – US 4.461%, Australia 4.283%, and Germany 2.424%.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

ASX 200 charges 111 points ahead to 7793 (1.4%). Banks leading the charge higher as ANZ reports and announces a $2bn buyback and NAB goes ex-dividend by 84c. The Big Bank Basket up 1.3% to $209.82. MQG jumped 2.5% as the Equities Conference kicks off with no bad news so far. Early days. Insurers and other financials picked up too, QBE up 0.9% and SUN up 0.6%. REITs also back in demand across the sector with GMG up 1.2% and SCG up 1.6%. Industrials firmed too, WOW up 1.4% and WES continuing to push higher after investor day up 2.2%. Green across screens with Tech doing ok, WTC up 2.3% and the All-Tech Index up 1.6%. Utilities doing well after an upgrade from AGL. Resources better with BHP up 1.6% and FMG kicking 1.8%. Lithium in selected stocks was better, LRS doing well up 8.5%. Uranium stocks back in favour, PDN kicking goals up 8.4%. Even oil and gas doing better, WDS up 1.9% and STO rallying 0.9%. Gold miners pushing higher with NST up 1.2%. In corporate news, ANZ results, AGL upgrade, SGM downgraded and fell 6.4%, HMC upgraded guidance putting on 6.8%. On the economic front, retail sales dropped again, the RBA kept rates on hold as expected with ruling nothing in or out. Asian markets, Japan rose 1.4% with China down 0.2% and HK off 0.9%. 10-year yields fell to 4.31%.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 176.59 points, or 0.46%, to close at 38,852.27. It was the fourth consecutive winning session for the 30-stock index. The S&P 500 advanced 1.03% to end at 5,180.74, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 1.19% to reach 16,349.25.ASX to rise. SPI Futures up 38 points (+0.49%).London’s LME closed overnight for the Early May Bank Holiday.Gold +0.88%.Oil prices edged higher as ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel failed to materialise.  WTI +0.56% and Brent Crude +0.38%.10Y Bond Yields – US 4.487%, Australia 4.386%, and Germany 2.465%.Currencies – AUD -0.02%, USD Index +0.06%, Euro -0.02%, and Bitcoin -0.50%.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

ASX 200 puts on another 53 points to 7682 (0.7%). Banks firing up with the Big Bank Basket up to $207.14 (+1.3%) with WBC up 2.7% reporting in line and a special dividend and an increased buyback. MQG is finding some broker love, up 1.5%, and Insurers are weaker as yields fall. MFG with FUM numbers unchanged and GQG continuing higher. REITs doing ok, GMG sees buyers on increased data estimates, up 4.4%. Industrials mixed with WES up 1.2% after an investor day last week, WOW and COL still struggling for support. QAN up 0.3% after settling with the ACCC on the ‘ghost flights’. Tech slightly higher, TLS up 0.3% and healthcare sideways. In resources, the ‘Three Amigos’ rallying on better Iron ore prices, BHP up 0.8% and FMG up 2.6%. Lithium not doing much. Same with golds and oil and gas going nowhere in a hurry. On the corporate front, GNC slumped 3.6% on margin issues, THL crashed 36.8% as van sales and bookings hit a wall. IGL chair Geoff Selig has passed away unexpectedly. On the economic front, nothing today. Asia markets better, China up 1.3% and HK down 0.1%. Japan closed for a holiday. 10-year yields 4.38%.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

The Dow Jones was up 450 points, the S&P 500 +1.26% and the NASDAQ +1.99%. For the week the Dow Jones was up 1.14%, the NASDAQ up 1.43% and the S&P 500 up 0.55%.Against expectations of 243K jobs, the number came in below expectations at 175K, further taking the heat out of bond markets. Bond yields dropped 9.2bp (US 10Y) and 7.5bp (US 2Y), taking 5bp off the Australian 10-year bond yield and 4.2bp off the Australian two-year bond yield. Here are the numbers from Friday. The unemployment rate also inched out more than expected to 3.9%, which is also good for interest rate fears.ASX set to rise. SPI futures up 22 points (0.29%). WBC profit falls 16% but pays 15c Special dividend and raises ordinary by 7% and increases buyback by $1bn.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

ASX 200 kicks another 42 points higher to 7629 to finish the week up around 0.6%. Banks were better again post NAB with the Big Bank Basket up to $204.53(+0.5%). MQG disappointed again. Three in a row, starting to become a habit. Down 2.2%. Insurers mixed, GQG better on div announcement, REITs up as bond yields fell to 4.41%. GMG up 2.7% and SCG rallying 1.0%. Healthcare in the pink, CSL up 0.2% and COH up 1.4%. Industrials bouncing back. WES strategy day yesterday drew positive broker comments, up 2.8%, WOW bounced 0.3% with ‘old skool’ platforms doing well. REA up 2.0% and CAR up 2.2%. Tech better on Apple results, WTC up 1.2% and XRO up 1.3% with the All -Tech Index up 1.5%. In resources, slight improvement in the Three Amigos, FMG the best up 0.4%. Lithium stocks finding some friends for now, PLS up 3.0% and MIN up 1.9%. Gold miners sold off on bullion drop, NST down 1.7% and EVN off 5.6%. Oil and gas doing little. In corporate news, SQ2 rallied hard 9.8% on results despite question on money laundering. BAP now being talked of as a takeover target after 24% fall yesterday. On the economic front, HSBC forecast no change to rates in 2024 and new housing loans rose 17.9% since March. Asian markets mixed, China closed for a holiday, HK up 1.3%. 10-year yields at 4.41%.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

Stocks finished higher Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 322.37 points, or 0.85%, to close at 38,225.66. The S&P 500 gained 0.91% to settle at 5,064.20, while the Nasdaq Composite surged 1.51% to end at 15,840.96.Apple announces largest-ever $110bn share buyback as iPhone sales drop 10%.ASX to rise. SPI Futures up 35 points (+0.46%). MQG Results out. US Jobs tonight.Base metals mixed. Nickel -0.64%, Zinc +0.59%, Lead +0.09% and Tin +1.38%.Copper extended losses, down 1.56% on concerns that the recent 2Y high was based on speculation while physical demand remains weak in China.   Aluminium down 1.69% on data that showed rebounding inventories.Gold eased 0.63%.Oil prices under pressure from weaker global demand and rising inventories.  WTI -0.14%, and Brent Crude +0.07%.Currencies – AUD -0.02%, USD Index -0.34%, Euro +0.02%, and Bitcoin +2.81%.10Y Bond Yields – US 4.589%, Australia 4.430%, and Germany 2.537%.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

ASX 200 rallies 17 points to 7587 (0.2%) as banks take heart from NAB result and new buy back. NAB up 1.5% and the Big Bank Basket up to $203.54 (+1.0%). MQG rallying 1.2% ahead of its results tomorrow, with NWL also doing well up 2.0%. Insurers eased back. REITs slightly better with GMG up 0.8%. Healthcare finding a few friends, CSL up 0.3% and RMD up 0.6%. Industrials mixed, WOW fell 4.2% on quarterly results underwhelming, COL down 1.9% and TLS falling 1.4%. Tech better, XTC up 2.7% and XRO up 0.4% with the All-Tech Index up 0.1%. Resources better as BHP moved slightly higher, RIO down 0.2% and FMG up 1.0% with gold miners putting in a solid day, NST up 1.0% and EVN up 0.8%. Oil and gas down and dirty STO off 0.8%  and WDS falling yet another 1.2%. On the corporate front, BAP lived up to low expectations with a bad trading update and cratered 23.9%, NAM got another bid at 70c, RIO was quiet at the AGM on the BHP bid for Anglo, SQ2 fell 5.6% on rumours that US regulators are examining the business. In economic news, Building Approvals missed expectations, falling 1.9% in February. The BoP also missed expectations on exports in commodities. In Asia, Japan unchanged, China closed for a long weekend and HK up 2.4%. 10-year yields at 4.44% slipping slightly lower.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

Wall Street closed mixed overnight after the Fed held rates unchanged, as expected. The policy statement was largely unchanged but noted a lack of progress towards the 2% inflation goal in recent months. Powell’s conference speech was less hawkish than anticipated. He noted that the next meeting is unlikely to be a rate hike and that he is not seeing any evidence of stagflation. Dow up 87 points (+0.23%). Up 533 points at best, down 35 points at worst. S&P 500 and NASDAQ fell 0.34% and 0.33%, respectively. Bonds rallied after Powell downplayed the possibility of interest rate hikes, with the 2Y yields falling back below 5% and the 10Y yield eased 4.1bps in a volatile session. On the economic front, US job openings tumbled to a 3Y low falling 325k from the previous month, and US ISM Manufacturing PMI contracted, falling to 49.2 in Apr-24.ASX to fall. SPI Futures down points (-0.07%).NAB and WOW in focus.Copper fell 0.48% on profit-taking following the sharpest rally in years.Gold jumped 1.41% as the USD and treasury yields tumbled lower after the Fed’s interest rate decision.Oil prices fell sharply to a seven-week low on a surprise build in US crude stocks.  WTI -3.34% and Brent Crude -4.85%.10Y Bond Yields – US 4.641%, Australia 4.490%, and Germany 2.584%.Currencies – AUD -0.05%, USD Index -0.51%, Euro +0.01%, and Bitcoin -4.14%.Base metals finished lower as the USD Index was close to a six-month high ahead of the FOMC decision before tumbling. Nickel -1.96%, Aluminium -0.23%, Zinc -0.95%, Lead -1.74% and Tin -1.44%.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

ASX 200 falls another 94 points to 7588 (-1.2%) as US markets fall ahead of FOMC meeting results. Banks eased with results in focus, NAB flat with the Big Bank Basket down to $201.58 (-0.4%). Insurers slipped, with QBE off 1.2% and SUN down 2.3%, with other financials easing MQG down 0.9%. REITS slipped slightly, GMG down 0.6% and SGP off 1.6% Industrials weaker, QAN down 1.2% on data breach issues, WOW sold out of 5% of EDV down 3.9% with COL up 1.1%. Retailers in some trouble, JBH down 1.9% and PMV falling 2.1%. Tech a little mixed, WTC down 4.3% and XRO up 0.9% with the All-Tech Index down 1.5%. Resources weak across the board, BHP falling another 1.7% with FMG dropping 2.8%. Gold miners smashed on bullion falls, EVN down 3.5%, NST off 3.4%, and NEM down 2.1%. Oil and gas stocks in trouble on crude falls, WDS down 2.6% and STO falling 2.1%. In corporate news, quarterly results and a slight upgrade for AMC up 4.6%, AVZ will delist in a $2.8bn blow to existing shareholders. NXG in a halt on a capital raise, VCX reaffirmed earnings guidance, and QAN dipped 1.19% on a potential hack on their frequent flyer app. On the economic front, nothing significant. Asian markets holding up relatively well. 10-year yields 4.51%. Many European markets closed for May Holidays. Dow Futures down 5 points. NASDAQ Futures down 65 points. Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

The S&P 500 dropped 1.57% to close at 5,035.69 The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 570.17 points, or 1.49% to finish the session at 37,815.92. The Nasdaq shed 2.04% to 15,657.82.It was an April for the major averages, with the Dow losing 5% for its worst monthly performance since September 2022. The S&P 500 slid about 4.2% this month, and the Nasdaq lost 4.4%. The three major averages snapped five-month winning streaks.ASX SPI Futures down 92 points.Base metals mixed. Nickel +0.24%, Aluminium +0.41%, Zinc +1.86%, Lead +0.45% and Tin -3.81%.Copper eased -0.13% after four sessions of gains on slower manufacturing activity in China and a firm dollar.Gold tumbled 2.09% to a one-week low, pressured by rising bond yields and the US dollar.Oil prices extended losses from yesterday following rising US crude production and hopes of a Middle East ceasefire.  WTI -0.91% and Brent Crude -0.73%.10Y Bond Yields – US 4.682%, Australia 4.479%, and Germany 2.591%.Currencies – AUD +0.03%, USD Index +0.68%, Euro -0.01%, and Bitcoin -4.34%.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 375.12 points, or 0.98%, to close at 38,085.80, weighed down by steep declines in Caterpillar and IBM. The S&P 500 dropped 0.46% to finish the session at 5,048.42, and the Nasdaq Composite lost 0.64% to 15,611.76.U.S. gross domestic product expanded 1.6% in the first quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said. Economists polled by Dow Jones forecast GDP growth would come in at 2.4%.US personal consumption expenditures price index increased at a 3.4% pace, well above the previous quarter’s 1.8% advance.ASX 200 SPI down 26 for a two day total of 86 points lower.Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.

ASX 200 fell 1 point to 7683 (-0.01%) after a CPI gut punch stole the momentum. Inflation is once again higher than expected, and insurance costs and education continue to pressure the upside. Banks again led the charge higher, with the Big Bank Basket up to $203.73 (+0.4%). WBC the standout up 0.9% despite news yesterday on profit hit. REITs mixed as rates pushed higher, GMG up 1.7% with most of the sector down. Insurers better on bond yields. Healthcare mixed too, CSL taking a break. Industrials mixed, retail fell after the CPI number as rates now seem on hold for longer. Tech eased, the All-Tech Index flat. In resources, FMG gained 0.7% on production report, Gold miners found a level and bounced. NST up 1.0% and EVN up 0.5%. Lithium miners were better on Tesla sentiment moves, PLS up 1.3% and IGO up 1.5%. LTR had a good day, up 2.3%. Oil and gas stocks slightly better, copper still finding buyers, BOC up 15.4%. Must be a boom. In corporate news, NCK is raising money to push into the UK. Richard Goyder was elected Chair again at WDS with 80% voting for him. PPT fell 3.5% on FUM news, KGN crashed 27.5% on a business update, and CWY dropped back to where it started Tuesday morning on denial of takeover talk from WES. On the economic front, CPI came in above expectations and showed that inflation is still a clear and present danger with rents, insurance and school fees. Asian markets better with Japan screaming ahead by 1.7%. China up modestly with HK up 2.1%. 10Y yields boosted to 4.4%. European futures are set to open higher. Dow Futures up 61 points. NASDAQ Futures up 128 points. Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.