Portfolio Positioning: Volatility remains the only constant in 2022!

Local stocks got off to an encouraging start yesterday, with the index actually managing to edge higher early on ignoring the 800-point plunge by the Dow but things slowly but surely unwound throughout the day as aggressive selling hit the Resources Sector, perhaps some big players agree with MM that things have simply advanced too far too fast. Tuesday ultimately saw the ASX200 close down 0.8%, back under 7000, as profit taking appeared to roll through the energy stocks and miners while at the same time a number of the classic “risk off” areas such as healthcare…

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Afternoon report 21/05/2025 17:39

The Match Out: RBA rate cut fuels ASX higher, gold back on track

The ASX hit a new 3-month high today on residual optimism from yesterdays more dovish RBA rhetoric. The majority of stocks rallied, banks pushed up again and we saw a number of corporates provide solid updates, though not all were rosy. The backdrop for Australian equities has certainly improved in the last month, and it just seems a matter of time before we’re writing about new all-time highs at the index level.

Alerts 21/05/2025 10:50

Trade Alerts – Income & Emerging Companies Portfolios

We are making changes across two portfolios.

Morning report 21/05/2025 09:38

Portfolio Positioning: The RBA delivers the “Goldilocks scenario” for stocks

The ASX200 advanced +0.6% on Tuesday following the 0.25% rate cut by the RBA and a far more dovish outlook from Michele Bullock. Bond yields plunged on commentary about inflation, now within the RBA target band both in terms of the headline rate and the trimmed mean, with RBA forecasts expecting it to stay that way.

Afternoon report 20/05/2025 16:58

The Match Out: Rate cut as expected, with more to come it seems. “For now, we’re in a good position” says the RBA

An interesting session for Aussie stocks, with initial strength being sold into, which has been a trend of late, only for the RBA to deliver a more ‘dovish’ cut than expected at 2.30pm which prompted a good bounce across most sectors into the close.

Alerts 20/05/2025 09:51

Trade Alert – Active Growth Portfolio

We are making several changes to the Growth Portfolio this morning.

Morning report 20/05/2025 09:39

What Matters Today: Finding order in today’s disorder

Monday saw the ASX200 fail to notch its 9th consecutive gain following Moody's US credit rating downgrade. The index finished down -0.6%, with over 65% of the main board retreating in line with US S&P 500 futures ahead of the night's fascinating session.

Afternoon report 19/05/2025 17:26

The Match Out: Commodities & energy drag ASX down as investors await RBA rate-decision

A soft session to start the week and it seems the market has taken the US debt downgrade from Moody’s as a catalyst to reduce risk, particularly sectors exposed to global growth such as commodities.

Morning report 19/05/2025 09:38

Macro Monday: The RBA gives a confidence boost to Aussie stocks & housing

As the US first-quarter earnings season draws to a close, stocks have rallied on easing trade tensions and results that have largely been better than feared/expected. However, companies across the US, Europe and China are pulling their forecasts for the year or providing gloomy outlooks, citing rising costs, weak consumer sentiment and a lack of business confidence as a result of President Donald Trump’s worldwide trade offensive - they’re laying the foundations for a tough 2nd half of 2025, while hopefully hoping to overdeliver if things turn out not too badly.

Weekend report 17/05/2025 09:32

Weekend Q&A: The RBA will be centre stage this week, with a rate cut expected

The ASX 200 ended the week up +1.4 %, taking the month's gains to +2.7%, as the index pushed within striking distance of February's all-time high. The energy and tech sectors drove the gains, both ending the week by more than 5%, while defensive/rate-sensitive stocks dragged the chain, i.e. “risk on” was the order of the day. Out of the mainboard's 11 sectors, only the consumer staples, Utilities, and real estate sectors closed lower. The US-China “Trade Truce” set the platform for a strong start to the week, before the Australian market posted its highest level in three months on Friday after soft US economic data paved the way for interest rate cuts in Australia and the United States. The positive statistics are continuing to line up:

Afternoon report 16/05/2025 17:11

The Match Out: ASX books another strong week, now up 16% from the lows

SPI Futures were uber bullish overnight up nearly 100pts, outpacing gains in other markets and that drove a bump on open for stocks, however, it didn’t last with the main board giving back the lion’s share of gains as the day progressed, ultimately trading more than 50pts off the early highs – a sign of exhaustion in the short term after a great rally in stocks.