Afternoon report 22/09/2026 16:37

The Match Out: Tech leads, but the ASX gives back early gains

The ASX 200 finished modestly higher today, but the headline gain masks another fairly mixed session. The index jumped ~50 points at the open following a strong lead from Wall Street and renewed enthusiasm around the AI trade and a drop in Oil prices, before handing back some of those gains as the day progressed.

Morning report 22/09/2026 09:23

What Matters Today: Is it time for the Consumer Staples contrarian trade?

The ASX 200 recovered well from an early 0.6% dip to close flat on Monday, with 45% of the main board managing to advance. Gains by the banks cancelled out losses by the miners, leaving the index evenly balanced into the close. Australian tech stocks, which are primarily software names, continued to underperform, falling 1.6% and extending their decline in 2026 to more than 25%. To put the disappointing performance into perspective, the US software sector is marginally higher for the year.

Afternoon report 21/09/2026 16:37

The Match Out: ASX holds its nerve as tech keeps bleeding; Perpetual rejects EQT’s best-and-final

The ASX started the week on the back foot but managed to claw back most of the early losses, finishing essentially flat after a 40pts of weakness to begin proceedings. The key driver continues to be the domestic rate outlook, with both Commonwealth Bank and ANZ shifting their view and calling a 25bp RBA hike to 4.60% next week, with credit markets now fully pricing that in.

Morning report 21/09/2026 09:31

Macro Monday: The ASX 200 is following the 2022 roadmap into October

Last week saw the ASX 200 extend its September pullback to -3.8%, taking the total decline from August’s all-time high to almost -7%. The chart below highlights the uncanny similarities with 2022, when the RBA began aggressively tightening monetary policy, and Australia’s 10-year bond yield surged from around 1.5% to 4%, weighing on equity valuations. We’ve been watching with growing interest as the index continues to track the path of 2022’s “bond tantrum” remarkably closely - rising bond yields are the common denominator in both years.

Weekend report 19/09/2026 09:10

Weekend Q&A: Rising bond yields continue to weigh on the ASX

The ASX 200 slipped 0.1% last week, its 3rd consecutive weekly decline, but a welcome relief from the aggressive selling earlier in the month. With the Fed rate hike behind us, attention switched to the RBA on the 29th as rising bond yields continue to weigh on risk assets. We anticipate further weakness in the coming week (s), but the index is slowly gaining an air of a market “looking for a low.”

Afternoon report 18/09/2026 16:48

The Match Out: ASX stumbles as RBA’s Bullock signals more tightening, Maas Group clears FIRB

The ASX finished modestly lower, giving back a +40pt early gain as the market digested hawkish commentary from the RBA as Michele Bullock addressed parliament today.

Morning report 18/09/2026 09:38

ETF Friday: If Banks have bottomed, should we buy the stocks or Bank ETFs?

The ASX 200 surprised many on the open yesterday, “gaping up” around 100 points above where it was “supposed” to open, leaving many scratching their heads, but as Shawn rightly pointed out, it's not the first and won't be the last example of market shenanigans on the expiry of the SPI Futures – particularly quarter end expiry. By the close, the local index still managed to finish +0.4% higher, aided by a more than +1% pop by US Futures in their late trade and an average +2% gain by the “Big Four” ASX banks.

Afternoon report 17/09/2026 16:43

The Match Out: ASX firms post-Fed as Financials rotate back into favour

The ASX edged higher today, extending yesterday's move, following the Federal Reserve’s move to push the cash rate higher overnight. The Fed delivered the 25bp hike as expected, though commentary pointed to further tightening as Chair Kevin Warsh reiterated a firm stance on inflation. That initially pushed global markets lower, although bond yields subsequently eased and provided some relief for equities.

Alerts 17/09/2026 09:55

Trade Alerts – Growth, Emerging & International Equities Portfolios

MM is selling out of Lithium exposure

Morning report 17/09/2026 09:39

What Matters Today: Is salt about to disrupt the lithium market?

The ASX 200 eked out a +0.3% gain ahead of the Fed's rate decision, primarily courtesy of a bounce by the miners, while CBA was the largest drag on the local index, slipping 0.6%. It was encouraging to see the selling pressure across the ASX subside, but with markets becoming increasingly hawkish, we feel investors require some “good news” before they take on more risk with global central banks set to start hiking as elevated oil prices continue to stoke inflation expectations.