James Hardie (JHX)

08/10/2025

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Afternoon report 13/03/2026

The Match Out: ASX drifts lower, down 2.6% for the week

The dominant forces were geopolitical and monetary policy related. The escalating Iran conflict drove oil above $US101/barrel, stoking inflation concerns and cementing market expectations of an RBA rate hike at Tuesday's meeting - markets are pricing an 80% probability by close. That rate repricing drove a sharp rotation: banks were again the standout beneficiaries, with NAB leading at +1.5%, while gold miners came under significant pressure.

Morning report 13/03/2026

ETF Friday: Reviewing Four Bond ETFs with higher interest rates on offer

The ASX 200 endured another tough session on Thursday, falling -1.3% and chalking up another triple-digit decline. Several headwinds weighed on the market, most notably oil surging more than ~9% at one stage, with the knock-on impact on bond yields dominating the headlines. A plan by the International Energy Agency to release millions of barrels from strategic reserves failed to calm markets after reports that Iran struck oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, escalating fears of supply disruptions through the critical shipping route that carries roughly 20% of global oil trade. Every day Brent crude pushes above US$100 chips away at confidence that the global economy can quickly move past the Iran conflict.