What Matters Today: How to “play” the current panic in commodities

On Monday the ASX200 again recovered strongly from early losses to end the session down less than 0.3%, when we take into account weak US S&P500 futures throughout much of our day and Star Entertainment (SGR) plunging almost 23% on more regulatory scrutiny for the sector, we felt it was another solid performance by the local market. It may sound myopic on our part considering we’re still bullish risk assets at current levels but stocks are still absorbing bad news and to us it has the overall feel that too many players are now short, or underweight equities.

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Afternoon report 01/05/2025 16:55

The Match Out: ASX kicks off May on the up!

The ASX backed up a solid recovery in April with a positive session to kick off May with 70% of the main board finishing higher. While the influential banks and resources generally struggled, there were some good moves elsewhere with technology and Date Centre stocks buoyed by better results from Meta and Microsoft overnight that imply AI spending remains robust.

Morning report 01/05/2025 12:05

What Matters Today: Uranium shorts are enormous, a dramatic “squeeze” could be in the offing

The ASX 200 popped higher in the last hour of April trade, taking the local index up 3.6% for the month. This has been a dramatic and impressive turnaround considering the carnage following “Liberation Day.” Similarly, global stocks were sitting up +0.5% ahead of overnight trade with the US reporting season set to take the markets' focus, at least for a week or two.

Afternoon report 30/04/2025 16:54

The Match Out: ASX shrugs off hotter inflation data, charges through 8,100

The ASX opened stronger following robust trading overnight as US investors shrugged off weak economic data and continued a rotation into risk on stocks as SP 500 companies impress on quarterly earnings. Key data releases locally mid-morning threatened to shake investor confidence — weaker Chinese manufacturing figures and a hotter-than-expected domestic CPI print.

Morning report 30/04/2025 09:48

Portfolio Positioning: The ASX200 makes 9-week highs, and people are still bearish

The ASX200 rallied strongly throughout Tuesday, hardly taking a backwards step all day to close up +0.9% on broad-based buying that saw almost 90% of the main board close higher. Local stocks are benefiting from some overseas money finding its way into the ASX, which has outperformed the US in 2025, although a few months doesn’t make a year.

Afternoon report 29/04/2025 17:49

The Match Out: Quarterlies provide a spark, ASX continues hot streak

Another strong session played out on the ASX today with the Australian Futures market not to be relied on, indicating a 16pt rise pre-open, the market exploded out of the gates as a slew of solid quarterly production reports from the mining sector provided a spark with BHP, Fortescue and Rio accounting for ~25% of the total index gain.

Morning report 30/04/2025 10:19

What Matters Today: Three ASX stocks very exposed to a global slowdown

The ASX200 struggled to hold onto early gains on Monday, not helped by weakness across US Futures and local heavyweights CBA and BHP. The market ultimately finished up 28-points after surrendering ~65% of the early gains, but over 70% of the main board closed higher, led by strong moves across the energy and tech sectors.

Afternoon report 28/04/2025 16:38

The Match Out: ASX limps into the close after a strong open

The ASX opened with a bang this morning hitting a 8051 high early on – up ~80pts, taking the rally from the April 7 low to +882pts/12.3%. However, profit taking emerged from mid-morning with the index losing ~70% of the morning gains.

Morning report 28/04/2025 09:32

Macro Monday: Good old-fashioned earnings drive stocks higher

Last week saw the S&P 500 enjoy its longest advance since January, rising +4.6%, taking the index back above the psychological 5500 level. After an exceptionally volatile month, the index is less than 2% below where it exited March, while the tech-based NASDAQ is actually higher.

Afternoon report 24/04/2025 16:48

The Match Out: ASX gains while US & China play chicken on trade policy

The ASX charged upward once again today, with 5 out of the last 7 sessions ending higher as investors continue to bank on rhetoric out of the Whitehouse that a deal getting done between the US and China is only a matter of time.

Morning report 24/04/2025 11:55

What Matters Today: As gold plunges, which stocks does MM like & where?

The ASX 200 sprang out of the blocks on Wednesday after the stunning reversal on Wall Street following bullish rhetoric from US President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The local index may have drifted slightly in the afternoon, but it still closed up over 100 points on broad-based gains outside of the gold sector - more on this later.