Ask James: The Fed appears to be the fresher driver for stocks

The ASX200 delivered a fascinating week under-the-hood even while the index hardly moved, on the sector level it was also fairly quiet as we all focused on the big hits and misses as corporate Australia faced the music – 8 stocks finished the week down 10%, or more, while an impressive 12 companies ended the week higher by the same degree, in other words 1 out 10 ASX200 stocks moved by more than 10% over the 5-days.

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Afternoon report 23/03/2026 16:45

The Match Out: ASX down but recovers nicely from morning lows

The ASX finished lower, though it was much worse early on in the session. The war in the Middle East continues to dominate sentiment, with the market now down ~9% from the start of March, flirting with technical 'correction' territory.

Alerts 23/03/2026 09:42

Trade Alert – Active Growth Portfolio

We are making three changes to the Growth Portfolio today.

Morning report 23/03/2026 09:09

Macro Monday: President Trump has lit a fuse under markets, issuing Iran a 48-hour ultimatum

Global equities finished lower on Friday, pressured by escalating Middle East tensions, surging oil prices, and a renewed shift higher in rate expectations. For the week, the ASX200 fell 2.2%, the S&P 500 lost 1.9%, and the UK FTSE 3.3%.

Weekend report 21/03/2026 09:41

Weekend Q&A: Markets fear the Iranian conflict has no end in sight

The ASX200 ended a tough week down -2.2%, extending March’s retreat to -8.4% with more losses likely on Monday. Materials (-7.1%) and Tech stocks (-4.2%) continued to lead the decline, as fears around global growth and inflation escalated as the war dragged on with no end in sight, and oil prices looked increasingly comfortable above $US110. On Friday night, selling intensified into the U.S. afternoon session after Reuters reported Iraq had declared force majeure on oilfields operated by foreign companies, while President Trump said he was not seeking a ceasefire with Iran. Now entering its fourth week, roughly in line with Trump’s initial timeframe, the conflict is nonetheless unsettling Washington, as Iran’s ability to disrupt oil markets with relative ease continues to drive global angst.

Afternoon report 20/03/2026 17:24

The Match Out: ASX slips as gold unwinds and materials weigh to close out a tough week

The ASX 200 closed down in a session defined by continued selling across gold and materials, with the broader index unable to find meaningful support despite pockets of strength in healthcare, utilities and energy in particular.

Morning report 20/03/2026 09:24

ETF Friday: Looking at 4 ETFs in the cross hairs of the Middle East conflict

The ASX 200 fell by more than 140 points on Thursday, with escalating concerns about the Middle East conflict weighing heavily on the market. The miners (-4.8%) were front and centre of the selling, while energy (+5.1%) was unsurprisingly best on the ground. As the oil price surged above $US110, inflation fears soared, weighing on rate-sensitive stocks, with the crowded gold sector enduring some aggressive liquidation while tech and real estate names were also heavy as futures markets priced in at least two more rate hikes before Christmas.

Afternoon report 19/03/2026 17:05

The Match Out: Gold under pressure, energy soars as ASX takes a hit

The ASX 200 fell sharply today, the damage felt heavily in the resources with gold miners hit hardest as bullion dropped overnight on stronger USD following the Fed’s interest rate hold, while rate-sensitive growth and property stocks continued to struggle in the higher-for-longer rate environment.

Alerts 19/03/2026 09:37

Trade Alert – Active Growth Portfolio

We are adding a new position to the Growth Portfolio.

Morning report 19/03/2026 09:08

What Matters Today: 5 Major takeaways from March’s BofA Fund Managers survey

The ASX 200 rose another 0.3% on Wednesday, with around 70% of the index finishing higher as oil prices eased slightly and buying interest returned to the miners - RIO (+1.2%) and BHP Group (+0.7%). However, it was a relatively quiet session as investors digested this week's RBA’s split rate decision ahead of this morning’s Fed meeting, where no change was expected for a second consecutive meeting, and since the attacks on Iran, rate cuts are now not anticipated until late 2026.

Afternoon report 18/03/2026 17:01

The Match Out: ASX ends higher, shrugs off Iran noise as focus shifts to the Fed tonight

The ASX 200 closed up in a decent session, shrugging off the RBA’s move and the immediate Iran-related volatility and instead refocusing on underlying fundamentals. With the RBA firmly in the rear-view mirror following Tuesday's hike, attention has shifted squarely to tonight's US Federal Reserve decision. Tech and real estate led the charge, with growth stocks clawing back recent losses as bond yields settled and seven of eleven sectors finished higher — the kind of broad participation that hints at improving conviction in a wobbled market.