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The ASX200 delivered a second consecutive strong day, extending the weeks recovery from Tuesdays low to more than 3%. The gains were again spearheaded by the miners, on the back of stronger metal prices, with BHP Group (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) on their own contributing 50% of the index’s move. The advance was more broad based than on Wednesday with over 70% of the main board closing higher.
The ASX pushed higher today, building on strength from yesterday’s rally as sentiment around a potential US-Iran improved materially overnight. The prospect of the Strait of Hormuz reopening saw oil prices fall sharply, easing inflation concerns and spurring on risk appetite.
The ASX 200 rallied on Wednesday, following the strong lead from Wall Street and improving sentiment around the Middle East, with the US pushing hard for a lasting resolution.
The ASX bounced strongly today, shaking off recent weakness, leaning into improving sentiment around the Middle East, with the Whitehouse now clearly seeking an off-ramp from the Iran conflict.
We are making two changes to the Active Income Portfolio this morning.
The ASX 200 retreated just 0.2% on Tuesday, not a bad day considering the RBA hiked another 0.25%, with the index encouragingly closing on its intra-day high. The local bourse has retreated 4.4% since Westpac (ASX:WBC) warned of rising bad debts and weaker trading revenues 3-weeks ago.
The ASX slipped again today, though the move felt relatively contained given the significance of the RBA decision. The central bank delivered a third straight hike, taking the cash rate to 4.35%, but the market largely took it in stride, rising ~35pts after the decision into the close.
The ASX 200 retreated 0.4% ahead of this afternoons RBA rate decision, extending what has become one of the most sustained losing streaks of the year, nine declines in ten sessions, with the banks again at the centre of the weakness. National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB) was the standout drag; its soft quarterly result sent the stock down 1.6% and took approximately six points from the index.
The ASX gave back some of Friday’s bounce today, drifting lower as softer local updates outweighed ongoing strength in US equities. Breadth was soft through the session with Staples and Financials leading the declines as the index whipsawed early in the session before cruising lower into the close.
The RBA is expected to lift rates by another 0.25% on Tuesday, taking the cash rate to 4.35%, fully reversing the 0.75% of easing delivered through 2025. Credit markets are also pricing in at least one, and potentially two, additional hikes over the next 12 months, leaving mortgage holders facing the highest borrowing costs in over a decade. It’s no surprise that rate-sensitive sectors are under pressure—real estate and retail are down ~10% and ~14% respectively in 2026, while the ASX 200 has managed to eke out a modest gain.
