The Match Out: ASX dips as Bendigo (BEN) & Westpac (WBC) lead the banks lower

While the ASX closed in the red, it was a big turnaround from early weakness with a large sell-off in the banks, headlined by Bendigo (BEN) & supported by Westpac (WBC) weighing on the market early, however, from 1pm onwards the buyers stepped up pushing the main board more than +60 points above the session lows as reporting season continues to deliver a mixed bag, with a positive bias.

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Afternoon report 13/04/2026 17:09

The Match Out: Resilient ASX closes lower as US-Iran talks falter

The ASX finished lower today though the move was somewhat contained considering the escalation in rhetoric around the Middle East conflict. The local market entered the session digesting the breakdown of peace talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan over the weekend, with President Donald Trump announcing plans for a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a +7% spike in oil prices.

Morning report 13/04/2026 09:41

Macro Monday: The Bulls Fight Back – But the Ceasefire Calm is in Danger

Global equities posted a solid rally last week, driven by hopes that the US-Iran ceasefire would fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz — removing a key inflation risk and clearing the path for global growth to regain momentum before any lasting economic damage was done.

Weekend report 11/04/2026 09:19

Weekend Q&A: A ceasefire propels the ASX200 within striking distance of fresh all-time highs

Afternoon report 10/04/2026 17:06

The Match Out: ASX takes a breather after its best week in months

The local market softened today, though not by much, with the ASX200 index still capping off a strong week, rising +3.3% over the period as markets continued to rebound following the US-Iran ceasefire. Risk appetite cooled with investors trimming positions ahead of talks between US and Iranian officials in Pakistan over the weekend, while uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz and the resumption of tanker traffic continues to cloud the near-term outlook for energy markets.

Morning report 10/04/2026 09:21

ETF Friday: Four ETFs Caught in the AI Crossfire – Winners and Losers

The ASX 200 recovered from early losses to close up +0.2% on Thursday taking the market to its highest close since March 3rd, just as the Iran war broke out. Over 55% of the main board closed lower on the day but a strong session by the banks was enough to push the index higher, shrugging off steep losses across the software stocks after Anthropic launched Claude Managed Agents and Meta unveiled a new AI model - the “AI Disruption Trade” reared its head again causing indiscriminate selling in the local Tech stocks, sending the sector down another -6.5%.

Afternoon report 09/04/2026 17:14

The Match Out: ASX holds firm as tech retreats and energy bounces

The ASX 200 edged higher today, extending the relief rally sparked by the Iran ceasefire announcement yesterday morning, though gains were modest as investors continued to weigh the fragility of the agreement and the ongoing disruption to traffic and oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The mixed tone across sectors reflected that backdrop, with energy leading gains while technology stocks gave back some of their strong advances from the prior session.

Morning report 09/04/2026 09:51

What Matters Today: 4 “High Beta” Stocks MM likes to Ride the Markets Recovery

The ASX200 surged out of the gates on Wednesday and held its gains throughout the session, closing up +2.6%, its strongest performance in a year, after news of a two-week US–Iran ceasefire sparked a global relief rally. Wednesdays rally was broad-based, with 88% of the main board closing higher and an impressive 19 names jumping by +10%, or more. From a points perspective the miners and banks again led the way with BHP and CBA contributing ~20% towards the days advance which took the ASX200 back within 3% of its all-time high.

Afternoon report 08/04/2026 16:46

The Match Out: Tech jumps, Energy plummets as ASX rips higher on Middle East ceasefire

The ASX 200 posted its best session in almost a year today after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, triggering a sharp unwind of the war risk premium that has dominated markets over the past six weeks. The ceasefire, reportedly brokered through diplomatic channels including Pakistan, came just hours after US President Donald Trump warned he would escalate attacks on Iran’s infrastructure if shipping routes remained blocked.

Morning report 08/04/2026 10:03

Portfolio Positioning: Does MM like iron ore exposure across all of our portfolios?

The ASX200 closed up an impressive +1.7% on Tuesday although it was well off its mid-morning high where at its best it was up 225-points, or 2.6%. All 11 sectors ended higher, lifting the market to its highest close since mid-March, with the influential banks and miners leading the charge, BHP and CBA alone accounted for ~35% of the day’s gains.

Afternoon report 11/04/2026 07:15

The Match Out: ASX surges in broad rally as dip buyers pile in

The ASX 200 finished higher today, extending the recent recovery, although the market did give back some earlier gains as the session progressed. The index rallied through the morning as investors balanced improving risk sentiment against the continued uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict and the looming US deadline on Iran