The Match Out: ASX creeps higher despite Lithium carnage

Portfolio Positioning: September is delivering the “wobbles” right on cue
The ASX200 slipped another 0.5% on Tuesday, extending September's retreat to 1.9% as the often weak month follows the seasonality script to a tee. Banking shares led the index fall, with heavyweight CBA worst on ground, closing down 1.3%. Gold stocks continued to shine as the market goes “all in” on a Fed rate cut next week; elsewhere, other rate-sensitive names like the retailers and tech stocks continue to outperform.
The Match Out: ASX pulls back on bank weakness
Weakness in the banking sector weighed on the local market today, overriding optimism from Wall Street that the Fed is poised to cut rates next week. Gold remained hot with bullion hitting new all-time highs again overnight while there were some select pockets of strength elsewhere, largely amid tech and defensives.
What Matters Today: Will OPEC continue to weigh on the energy sector?
OPEC+ has agreed in principle to raise production again next month, highlighting the alliance’s determination to expand supply despite a looming surplus. Crude prices are down more than 10% this year on rising output and weaker demand from a soft Chinese economy and uncertainty courtesy of Trump’s trade war, yet resilience in the market has spurred Saudi Arabia and Russia to keep pushing barrels back online.
The Match Out: Stocks drift lower, market is losing steam
The ASX drifted lower on Monday despite a strong showing from technology, with ex-dividend names and weakness in banks and energy offsetting gains. There was a defensive undertone to the session – aside from strength in tech and lithium it wasn’t enough to outweigh pressure in banks and energy. Gold remains the standout macro theme into September with ETF flows at records, though local gold equities continue to lag – a trend we’ve written about in recent notes. The market more broadly continues to oscillate around the 8850 level, with breadth softening.
Macro Monday: Will the “Goldilocks Scenario” prevail for stocks?
U.S. job growth slowed sharply last month as unemployment climbed to its highest level since 2021, raising fears the labour market may be entering a deeper downturn. Hiring was once again led by health care, but outside that sector, total employment has fallen in three of the past four months.
Weekend Q&A: US Jobs Report raises more questions than it delivers answers
The ASX200 was whacked 160-points on Wednesday after hotter-than-expected GDP figures tempered rate cut expectations, but by Friday’s close, the market had recovered over 80% of the fall. Nerves increased throughout the week into Friday night's pivotal US Job Report, but after the release, markets remained uncertain as Fed rate cuts looked a given following the weak numbers, but concerns started to percolate around the health of the US economy.
The Match Out: ASX grinds higher in a ‘quiet’ session
The ASX moved higher on Friday though it was one of quietest sessions in recent memory trading in a narrow ~15pt range beyond the open, with next to no news flow to drive individual share prices in the wake of the blockbuster reporting season just gone.
ETF Friday: Looking at ETFs for Defence exposure
The ASX 200 rebounded strongly on Thursday, closing up +1%. The banks led the gains, with the “Big 4” up an average of nearly +2%, while the retail and tech names played strong supporting roles.
The Match Out: ASX flips the switch, rebounds after heavy selloff
The ASX rebounded strongly today, recovering some of the ground lost in its sharpest one-day fall since April yesterday. A softish open relative to the finish, the index opened +40pts higher but rallied through the day, with some profit taking around midday before another surge in the second half of the session, closing within 5pts of its high.