Macro Monday: How quickly will equities look through the Middle East news

Iran and a number of its allies launched a large-scale drone and missile attack upon Israel on Saturday night in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria. The prospects of a full-blown conflict in the region have increased dramatically over the last week, with at least nine countries involved in Saturday’s conflict, projectiles fired from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen were downed by Israel, the US and France, as well as Jordan. Following Iran’s attack, the U.S. pledged “ironclad” backing for Israel, but President Joe Biden made it clear the US would not participate in any offensive operations against Iran.

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Afternoon report 11/03/2026 16:44

The Match Out: RBA signals March hike – AUD hits 3 year high

The ASX pushed higher on Wednesday, closing up 0.6% as miners and banks did the heavy lifting in a session defined almost entirely by a hawkish pivot from the RBA. It wasn't a broad rally — only four of eleven sectors finished in the green — but the heavyweights were enough to keep the index comfortably in positive territory. Overnight US futures are pointing to a modestly positive Wall Street open.

Morning report 11/03/2026 09:32

Portfolio Positioning: Stocks & Bonds stabilise as Trump eases concerns over the war’s length

The ASX200 enjoyed a +1.1% relief rally on Tuesday, which saw almost 75% of the main board close higher. The rebound was driven by improved market sentiment, following President Trump's comments on the conflict in the Middle East. His optimistic comments drove oil prices well under the psychological $100 per barrel mark, and it was $94.37 per barrel at our close yesterday. US President Donald Trump told CBS the military operation in the Middle East was "very complete, pretty much" and "very far" ahead of its initial four-to-five-week schedule. A bounce in the influential materials and financials sectors drove the gains, with those two sectors accounting for more than 80% of the day's advance.

Afternoon report 10/03/2026 22:27

The Match Out: ASX claws back some lost ground as Oil prices settle

The ASX clawed back from Monday’s shellacking, closing up over 1% as Trump’s “pretty much complete” comments on the Iran conflict sent oil tumbling, giving markets room to breathe. It wasn’t a clean recovery. US futures are pointing modestly lower into the close and energy stocks copped heavy profit-taking as the oil tailwind reversed, but the bears didn’t get the follow-through they were looking for, and bargain hunters were active early.

Alerts 10/03/2026 09:46

Trade Alert – Growth & Income Portfolios

We are adding a stock to the Growth & Income Portfolios

Morning report 10/03/2026 12:00

What Matters Today: How MM sees the Energy Sector as war rages in the Middle East

The ASX200 was hammered on Monday, down 2.9%, taking March’s decline to ~6.5% with the month only one-third complete. It’s remarkable to think the market closed at an all-time high of 9200 just a week ago. Stocks tumbled as the Middle East conflict rattled energy markets, pushing oil up more than 25% higher, at one stage testing US$120/barrel. At the same time, bond markets extended losses on rising inflation fears while the US dollar hit its highest level since January, as risk-off sentiment gripped global markets. There was nowhere to hide on a day when ~95% of the main board retreated, and oil and gas giant Woodside (WDS) could only close 2% higher.

Afternoon report 09/03/2026 17:32

The Match Out: ~25% spike in Oil this morning rattles markets

Morning report 09/03/2026 09:48

Macro Monday: Gulf War propels oil towards $US100, sending investors scurrying for cover

One week in, and the Iran war has already severely disrupted global energy markets, with threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz effectively choking oil exports from the Persian Gulf and pushing crude prices to their highest levels in more than two years. As producers cut output and energy prices surge, the conflict is raising global inflation risks and intensifying concerns about energy security, particularly in Europe. The local market initially shrugged off last weekend’s US–Israel strikes on Iran, with the ASX200 closing at an all-time high on Monday. However, that early optimism quickly faded as investors began to acknowledge the conflict could last far longer than first imagined:

Weekend report 07/03/2026 09:54

Weekend Q&A: The US-Iran War takes its toll on global markets

Afternoon report 06/03/2026 16:36

The Match Out: A fitting end to a tough week for markets

Friday delivered more of the same, with the ASX unable to hold Thursday's recovery as a fresh wave of selling hit the materials sector. The culprit this time wasn't just the Middle East - China's state-backed iron ore buyer CMRG effectively banned traders from purchasing new BHP cargoes, sending the Big Australian down sharply and dragging the broader resources complex with it. It was a messy session to end a soft week, though there were some genuine bright spots. Tech continued its strong bounce and MFG added further gains as the Lowy Family's cornerstone stake gave the Barrenjoey merger story more legs.

Morning report 06/03/2026 09:20

ETF Friday: Reviewing Four Asian ETFs as volatility skyrockets across the region

The ASX 200 limped to a +0.1% gain on Thursday, although some heavyweight names traded ex-dividend, including Woodside (WDS), QBE Insurance (QBE), RIO Tinto (RIO), South32 (S32), and BHP Group (BHP, taking roughly 30-points off the index. It was another very polarised affair on the stock/sector front, with plenty of reversion unfolding since Monday's panic sell-off - we’ve seen profit taking in the high-flying miners while bargain hunters have emerged in the battered tech space. Despite the uptick, the ASX200 is still down 2.8% from Monday's recent record high and oil prices have continued higher after Iran denied rumours its officials had sought de-escalation via diplomatic backchannels and on reports of fresh Iranian air strikes on Israel.