The ASX 200 finished a touch higher, though there was a big intra-day reversal following stronger employment data out at 11.30am. The index was up more than 100pts before giving back most of the rally as investors increased the odds of another RBA rate hike.
Australia added 76,000 jobs in June, well ahead of the 15,000 expected, while unemployment held at 4.4%. The result pushed the Australian dollar above US70¢ and the 10-year bond yield toward 5%, with markets now pricing a 36% chance of an August rate rise with a full hike priced in by year-end. Next week’s quarterly inflation data has now become even more important.