What Matters Today: Using ETFs to Hedge or Short Stock Markets

Afternoon report 20/06/2025 16:42

The Match Out: ASX dips then bounces as Trump delays U.S involvement in the Middle East

It was a mixed day on the ASX today with half the main board higher/lower with the banks and materials sectors doing some damage early but the buy the dip mentality well and truly in play as we saw a significant grind higher through the session amounting to a +43pt move from the low of the day to the close.

Morning report 20/06/2025 09:37

What Matters Today: Using ETFs to Hedge or Short Stock Markets

The ASX 200 slipped another 0.1% on Thursday, with the song remaining the same on the stock & sector level. CBA scaled new highs, trading through $183, while weakness in the large-cap iron ore miners was enough to ensure the index closed mildly lower.

Afternoon report 19/06/2025 17:21

The Match Out: ASX resilient as missiles continue to fly

Another resilient session for the ASX, at the index level at least, with large cap, index heavy names continuing to find flows, though there was plenty of weakness across certain sectors, resources being an area that remained under pressure.

Morning report 19/06/2025 09:45

What Matters Today: Middle East uncertainty outweighs two Fed cuts in 2025

Wednesday saw the ASX200 close down 0.1% after rotating in another tight 0.4% range as the market remains in its “Middle East Conflict” holding pattern. The losers slightly beat the winners, with only two stocks moving by over 5%, illustrating the lacklustre nature of the day. At the sector level, weakness in the resources sector more than offset gains in tech, which we will examine later today

Afternoon report 18/06/2025 17:48

The Match Out: ASX slides on weaker Commodities

The ASX bounced between positive and negative territory today amid a sharp sell-off in materials after iron ore hit a 9-month low but ultimately closed toward its lows of the days narrow ~30pt trading range.

Alerts 18/06/2025 09:54

Trade Alerts – Active Growth, Income & Emerging Companies Portfolios

We are making several changes across Market Matters Portfolios today

Morning report 18/06/2025 09:31

Portfolio Positioning: Fears increase that the US will join the Middle East conflict

The ASX200 slipped 0.1% on Tuesday as uncertainty around the Middle East increased following some confusing and contradictory comments from President Trump et al, leading to a ~0.6% slide by the US S&P 500 futures, surrendering most of Monday's advance in the process.

Afternoon report 17/06/2025 16:56

The Match Out: ASX drifts lower as Geopolitical tensions escalate

The ASX came off the boil as the day progressed, tracking lower into the close, ending ~30pts below the daily high. Not an aggressive move in any stretch and we’re clearly not seeing a lot of panic, however, when we stand back and look at stocks only a few percent below all-time highs and overlay that with Trumps call to evacuate Tehran, pushing up Oil prices, our bias is to err on the side of selectively reducing market exposure in the short term – the risk/reward has become less appealing, we think.

Morning report 17/06/2025 09:55

What Matters Today: Is it too late to buy the Energy Sector?

The ASX200 surprised many on Monday, managing to eke out a small gain even after the Dow tumbled over 760 points on Friday night, although it helped that US futures bounced ~0.5% during our trading session. It certainly hasn’t taken long for the Middle East conflict to join other recent geopolitical & macroeconomic events in being ignored by stocks, as fears of missing out on further strength remain a greater concern to many fund managers.

Afternoon report 16/06/2025 17:31

The Match Out: ASX flat, Energy stocks soar while Gold wobbles

A very interesting session today for the ASX despite a small move at the index level. Escalation in the Israel/Iran conflict underpinned a str0ng move higher for energy stocks, with a bid for Santos (STO) thrown in the mix for good measure.