HomeReportsPortfolio Positioning: Gold & silver get hammered…
The ASX200 continued to advance in a “three steps forward, two back” fashion on Tuesday, posting a new all-time high before fading into the close. Gains were broad-based, with over 60% of the main board rising and 10 out of the 11 main sectors, with only the defensive facing consumer staples slipping lower.
The ASX 200 ended the week down 1.5% trading at its lowest level since July, with the vast majority of the damage unfolding on Friday. The week ended with the local market suffering its worst day in 10 weeks amid a global pullback in risk assets. Hawkish comments by Fed officials on Thursday night dialled back expectations that they would cut rates in December, sending rate-sensitive stocks lower. The tech, financial, and real estate sectors were the worst performers, while the materials and energy names again led the line, gaining 3.8% and 1.9%, respectively
The Australian market copped another heavy bout of selling today, with sentiment rattled by growing fears that interest rates in both the US and Australia aren’t coming down any time soon. The move follows Wall Street’s largest one-day fall in a month and caps the ASX’s worst week since March.
Volatility is on the increase in equities, but it's already been high in recent months across the commodity markets, from precious metals to lithium and copper. The moves have been significant as investors and traders have battled with the usual supply and demand fundamentals, combined with the almost random-like comments coming out of the Whitehouse. However, while the resources sector hasn’t been for the fainthearted, it has outperformed in 2025, with the Materials Index up 24% year-to-date, while the previously much-loved tech space is down 11%.
This morning, we updated our views across 6 commodities using related ETFs as the need to keep our finger on the pulse increases.
The ASX200 dropped sharply today, falling to a ten-week low after a strong jobs report dashed hopes of near-term RBA rate cuts, sending the rate-sensitive real estate and tech sectors down. The roaring gold sector provided a buffer, while the psychological 8700 level proved itself as a support, with a broad ~55pt rally softening the blow into the close.
The ASX200 closed down 0.2% on Wednesday, reversing early gains and closing below the psychological 8800 level. Over 50% of the main board closed higher, but another 3% drop by CBA was enough to drag the index lower, with Australia's largest bank now over 17% below its June high.
The ASX finished lower today with decent sessions from miners and energy stocks more than offset by weakness in technology and financials, as selling in CBA struck again, capping broader momentum.
The ASX200 started Tuesday in an encouraging fashion, up ~0.5%, as the US government neared a reopening deal, before the index reversed to close down 17 points, or 0.2%. The weakness was almost entirely down to CBA, even though winners outstripped losers by 2:1, when the ASX's largest stock tumbles 6.6%, the local bourse is going to struggle to close higher.
The ASX200 wavered through Tuesday’s session, opening up strongly after steps toward a resolution for the U.S government shutdown saw U.S markets rip overnight.
The ASX 200 rallied strongly on Monday, closing up +0.8% with 70% of the main board finishing higher. The local bourse enjoyed a strong tailwind from US futures and commodity prices as risk markets bounced on the news of the imminent end to the US government shutdown.
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