The Match Out: ASX gives up early gains, Healthcare struggles, JB Hi-Fi (JBH) see strong 2nd Quarter

The local market started on the front foot today, trading as much as +28pts/+0.38% to 7445 around midday before selling off into the afternoon. The slide seemed to coincide with the Bank of Japan (BOJ) talking to inflation risks, increasing their CPI expectations for the next 12 months to 1.1%. Healthcare was weak today, and while the Tech sector finished marginally better, it was the standout earlier in the session and felt the brunt of the afternoon’s weakness.

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Afternoon report 24/04/2026 16:48

The Match Out: ASX claws back early losses, SUN impresses on FY27 outlook

A choppy session that mirrored yesterday’s move to end the week as higher oil prices kept a lid on the local market for most of the day until a decent ~50pt rally from the lows saw the index finish almost flat into the close. The selling in financials eased, providing some stability, while materials weighed as gold stocks took a hit.

Morning report 24/04/2026 09:54

ETF Friday: International Income ETFS are becoming a shining light

Afternoon report 23/04/2026 17:24

The Match Out: ASX slides for a third straight day

The ASX remained under pressure today, as the index notched its third consecutive day of losses, weighed down by renewed fears around the Iran conflict after reports of Iranian gunboats firing on commercial vessels and seizing ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Morning report 23/04/2026 09:27

What Matters Today: CSL, Cochlear and the death of the healthcare premium – Is Australia’s most trusted sector broken?

The ASX200 fell sharply on Wednesday, dragged lower by healthcare and banking stocks, while miners offered little support to offset the weakness. The bears dominated the company news, with Cochlear (ASX:COH) -41%, Generation Development (ASX:GDG) -23%, and Bank of Queensland (ASX:BOQ) -9.1% pushing a bounce by Treasury Wine (ASX:TWE) +17% into the shade. The ongoing weakness in the banking sector, combined with heavy selling in healthcare stocks, accounted for more than 95% of the day's decline, underscoring the market's concentration of weakness. Similarly, the trifecta of Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA), Cochlear (ASX:COH) and CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL) made up 50% of the day's decline on their own.

Afternoon report 22/04/2026 17:41

The Match Out: ASX down, Cochlear whacked 40% on big downgrade

The ASX endured a tough session with heavy selling in Financials and Healthcare on a read-through from Bank of Queensland’s shrinking net interest margins and a brutal downgrade from Cochlear. The weakness came despite relatively stable overseas leads after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire extension – pushing US Futures higher during our time zone. However, with no deadline in play, the question becomes how long negotiations will be drawn out for, with higher oil prices incrementally adding to inflationary pressures each day that passes.

Alerts 22/04/2026 10:23

Trade Alert – Emerging Companies Portfolio

We are making a change to the Emerging Companies Portfolio.

Morning report 22/04/2026 09:39

Portfolio Positioning: Is the next chapter about to unfold for the banks?

The ASX200 finished a choppy session little changed on Tuesday, for a third straight session, amid a looming US-Iran ceasefire deadline and continued tensions over control of the Strait of Hormuz. Overall, it was a quiet session on both the stock and sector front with only the consumer staples (+0.76%) and energy sector (-0.9%) moving by more than 0.5%, with the index remaining range-bound between 8890 and 9020 for the 10th consecutive session.

Afternoon report 21/04/2026 17:16

The Match Out: ASX treads water, HUB misses on flows

The ASX traded in a choppy, rotational session today with the market remaining in limbo, waiting for more news on a deal between the US and Iran. Rather than a broad risk-off move, the local bourse largely shuffled capital between sectors as traders repositioned portfolios for what a “post-conflict” environment might look like, with some recent winners - financials and energy seeing profit-taking, while technology attracted renewed buying.

Morning report 21/04/2026 09:27

What Matters Today: NextDC Raises $1.1 Billion — Why are ASX Data Centre Stocks soft as demand surges?

The ASX200 clawed back early losses to finish marginally higher on Monday, up just 0.1%, after the Strait of Hormuz was effectively shut again almost as quickly as it had reopened. Another session where the market held its ground despite the weekend's escalation in Gulf tensions, and another reminder that investors have largely stopped reacting to each new headline with fresh conviction. The net result was more of the same: headline fatigue is well and truly setting in.

Afternoon report 20/04/2026 16:43

The Match Out: Bad news, flat close — the ASX refuses to flinch

SPI Futures were pricing a rise today of +82pts following strength in the US on Friday night, however the weekend news flow was anything but positive, with the Strait of Hormuz closing just as quickly as it opened. Oil prices spiked ~8% first up this morning, Gold fell ~$US40, US Futures traded down ~0.7% and Australian equities opened flat – which is where they closed – not a bad effort considering.