Weekend Q&A: Reporting season combines with rich valuations to awaken the Bears

Friday’s sharp 1.2% sell-off compounded what had already been a tough February for local stocks. The ASX200 ended the month down 4.2%, with the Financials, Energy, Real Estate, Healthcare, and Tech sectors all falling over 5%. The defensives stood out in the winner’s enclosure, with the Utilities +2.7% and Consumer Staples +1.5%, reducing the market’s decline. The market’s drop was its largest one-month decline since September 2022, as all the statistics aligned to paint a pretty average picture for investors, although we are still up for 2025, albeit just.

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Latest Reports

Afternoon report 31/10/2025 17:09

The Match Out: ASX rallies early, closes in negative territory

The ASX was a story of two tales today, with early gains driven by gold miners and the major banks as global risk sentiment improved following progress in US–China trade talks.

Alerts 31/10/2025 09:56

Trade Alert – Emerging Companies Portfolio

We are making two changes to the Emerging Companies Portfolio

Morning report 31/10/2025 09:48

ETF Friday: Three ETFs that could benefit from higher bond yields/interest rates

The ASX 200 slipped 0.5% on the penultimate day of October, as strength across lithium, copper, and uranium names failed to offset another weak session for rate-sensitive sectors. Consumer discretionary (-4.2%) and real estate (-2.7%) led the declines, with notable heavyweights Wesfarmers (WES) -7.1% and JB Hi-Fi (JBH) -4.5% dragging the index lower.

Afternoon report 30/10/2025 17:51

The Match Out: Rate sensitive stocks hit, MinRes (MIN) turns the corner

The ASX extended its losses on Thursday, as investors continued to digest hotter-than-expected local inflation data and a more cautious tone from US Fed Chair Jerome Powell overnight

Alerts 30/10/2025 10:05

Trade Alert – Active Growth Portfolio

We are selling a property holding

Morning report 30/10/2025 09:58

What Matters Today: Is it time to “tweak” portfolios as hopes of RBA rate cuts fade

The ASX200 finished 1% lower on Wednesday after a hot CPI print dashed hopes of an interest rate cut into Christmas - by the end of the day, futures markets were pricing in a 20% chance of some Christmas joy for mortgage holders and arguably more telling, only one cut at most by next Christmas! Michele Bullock has been warning markets to be conservative with their dovish forecasts, and it's her crystal ball that’s now looking the clearest.

Afternoon report 29/10/2025 17:30

The Match Out: ASX falls on hotter inflation data, Uranium stocks surge

Australian equities sold off sharply after a red-hot Q3 inflation print forced investors to abandon any near-term easing hopes. Core CPI, the RBA’s preferred gauge, jumped 1.0% QoQ (vs 0.8% expected & 0.6% RBA forecast).

Morning report 29/10/2025 09:46

Portfolio Positioning: The action continues to unfold on the stock and sector level

The ASX200 struggled on Tuesday under the weight of four major stocks tumbling by more than 10%, dragging the index lower from both a points and sentiment perspective. A strong banking sector couldn't dig the bourse out of trouble, as health care and IT stocks were dragged underwater by sector giants CSL and WiseTech, each sinking more than 15%.

Afternoon report 28/10/2025 17:31

The Match Out: Strength in banks not enough to drive ASX higher as CSL & WTC get whacked

The ASX slipped as sharp losses in tech and healthcare weighed heavily - the market was fighting an uphill battle after CSL and Wisetech both had –15% days, accounting for –61pts of index weakness between them.

Alerts 28/10/2025 09:52