Archives: Reports
The local market softened today, though not by much, with the ASX200 index still capping off a strong week, rising +3.3% over the period as markets continued to rebound following the US-Iran ceasefire. Risk appetite cooled with investors trimming positions ahead of talks between US and Iranian officials in Pakistan over the weekend, while uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of tanker traffic continues to cloud the near-term outlook for energy markets.
The ASX 200 recovered from early losses to close up +0.2% on Thursday taking the market to its highest close since March 3rd, just as the Iran war broke out. Over 55% of the main board closed lower on the day but a strong session by the banks was enough to push the index higher, shrugging off steep losses across the software stocks after Anthropic launched Claude Managed Agents and Meta unveiled a new AI model – the “AI Disruption Trade” reared its head again causing indiscriminate selling in the local Tech stocks, sending the sector down another -6.5%.
The ASX 200 edged higher today, extending the relief rally sparked by the Iran ceasefire announcement yesterday morning, though gains were modest as investors continued to weigh the fragility of the agreement and the ongoing disruption to traffic and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The mixed tone across sectors reflected that backdrop, with energy leading gains while technology stocks gave back some of their strong advances from the prior session.
The ASX200 surged out of the gates on Wednesday and held its gains throughout the session, closing up +2.6%, its strongest performance in a year, after news of a two-week US–Iran ceasefire sparked a global relief rally. Wednesdays rally was broad-based, with 88% of the main board closing higher and an impressive 19 names jumping by +10%, or more. From a points perspective the miners and banks again led the way with BHP and CBA contributing ~20% towards the days advance which took the ASX200 back within 3% of its all-time high.
The ASX 200 posted its best session in almost a year today after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, triggering a sharp unwind of the war risk premium that has dominated markets over the past six weeks. The ceasefire, reportedly brokered through diplomatic channels including Pakistan, came just hours after US President Donald Trump warned he would escalate attacks on Iran’s infrastructure if shipping routes remained blocked.
The ASX200 closed up an impressive +1.7% on Tuesday although it was well off its mid-morning high where at its best it was up 225-points, or 2.6%. All 11 sectors ended higher, lifting the market to its highest close since mid-March, with the influential banks and miners leading the charge, BHP and CBA alone accounted for ~35% of the day’s gains.
The ASX 200 finished higher today, extending the recent recovery, although the market did give back some earlier gains as the session progressed. The index rallied through the morning as investors balanced improving risk sentiment against the continued uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict and the looming US deadline on Iran
The ASX200 fell 1.1% on Thursday heading into the Easter break, extending the recent trend of late-week weakness as investors de-risk amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.
The ASX200 gave up early gains and finished lower today after investors were rattled by a fiery speech from US President Donald Trump at midday our time, dampening hopes for a quick resolution to the Iran conflict. The index traded up as much as ~0.4% earlier in the session before reversing sharply as oil prices surged and geopolitical risks again took centre stage.
