The ASX ground higher today, with strength in the heavyweight miners offsetting weakness across energy, consumer staples and communications. It was the first session in over five where stocks opened firm, yet selling ticked up over the course of the day, with the market finishing well off it’s early peak. While we’re bullish on the market, investors are still in this buy weakness, sell strength mentality while the Middle East situation remains unresolved – lets hope we can get back to focussing on earnings at some point.
To that end, US banks produced extraordinary numbers overnight with collective earnings from the 5 results showing QoQ earnings growth of more than 40%, mostly underpinned by equity trading revenue and investment banking. A great way to start 2Q earnings season in the US.