The Match Out: ASX up 0.8% for the week as we await more news from China

A quiet session to round out a solid week for the ASX (+0.8%) as we await more news from China around fiscal policy, to complement the monetary policy support already in play. The stage has been set for tomorrow morning, and whatever happens, it will have a bearing on how markets and some sectors in particular trade into year end. Over to you, My Fo’an!

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Weekend report 13/12/2025 09:41

Weekend Q&A: Equities forge higher after the Fed & RBA cast their votes

The ASX 200 surged +1.2% on Friday, taking the local bourse to fresh 4-week highs as the miners continued to support the market. The index ended the week up +0.7% but it felt like more after the strong rally into the weekend saw the local bourse enjoy its best session in five weeks. The tech rotation story continues, but fortunately for the ASX, the influential miners have been major beneficiaries as commodity prices charge higher, led this week by silver and copper.

Afternoon report 12/12/2025 16:45

The Match Out: ASX up 1.2%, Best session in months, Commodities lead

The ASX had a great session to end the week, its strongest session in three weeks as a sharp rally in commodities – led by gold and copper, and support from the financials – combined with renewed optimism around US monetary easing, booking a third straight weekly gain, the longest run since August. Despite the equity strength, rate expectations remain in flux, with Citi now forecasting Australian rate hikes in February and May.

Morning report 12/12/2025 09:33

ETF Friday: Looking at 4 ASX ETFs to play the current sector rotation

The ASX 200 surrendered most of its early Fed-fuelled gains on Thursday, closing up only 0.2%. The miners led Australia's market higher, helping the bourse snap a three-session losing streak after a US interest rate cut sparked a rally in raw materials. Still, with winners and losers evenly matched, it wasn’t a broad-based affair.

Afternoon report 11/12/2025 16:56

The Match Out: ASX up (just), finishes well off highs, Tech weighs again

The ASX was mildly higher by the close, although it gave back most of the early Fed inspired bump to finish ~65pts below the morning peak. Most support came from the miners after the Federal Reserve increased their growth forecast and cut rates, though weakness across tech persisted after Oracle sank ~10% in after-hours trade, with a soft cloud result raising questions about the durability of AI-linked spending - Nasdaq futures slid 1.1% during our time zone.

Alerts 11/12/2025 16:13

Trade Alerts – International Equities Portfolio

We are two new positions to the International Equities Portfolio

Alerts 11/12/2025 10:12

Trade Alerts – Active Growth & Income Portfolios

We are making changes across two portfolios

Morning report 11/12/2025 10:00

What Matters Today: Are the retailers getting oversold?

The ASX200 closed marginally lower on Wednesday, with the story remaining very much the same at the sector level ahead of the Fed: the materials sector was the best performer, advancing +1.3%, while tech again carried the wooden spoon, retreating +1.5%. This time it was the lithium and gold stocks that dominated the winners' enclosure, with the big iron ore miners adding some useful support. Miners found support from firmer commodity prices, stronger-than-expected China inflation data, and renewed optimism that a Fed easing cycle will ultimately underpin demand.

Afternoon report 10/12/2025 17:00

The Match Out: ASX drifts after RBA’s hawkish hold

The ASX drifted through the session with little conviction as investors balanced a hawkish hold RBA against anticipation for tomorrow morning’s US Federal Reserve decision. With Michele Bullock signalling that rate cuts are off the table for the foreseeable future yesterday, the market was unsettled and interest rate sensitive stocks continued to weigh, though a huge effort from gold stocks and broader materials provided much needed support for the index to close only just lower.

Morning report 10/12/2025 09:49

Portfolio Positioning: The RBA follows the script with a hawkish twist

The ASX 200 dropped 0.5% on Tuesday after the RBA held rates steady as expected, but the tone of the statement shifted the decision into a decidedly “hawkish hold”. Michele Bullock's comments pushed bond yields to their highest level since late 2024 and the $A back to its 2025 highs, leaving stocks swimming against the tide ahead of the Fed decision on Thursday.

Afternoon report 09/12/2025 17:09

The Match Out: ASX lower as RBA takes the prospect of cuts off the table

The ASX lost ground into the close on Tuesday after RBA governor Michele Bullock signaled that rate cuts are off the table for the foreseeable future, with upside risks to inflation re-emerging. The main board, which had hovered modestly lower for most of the session, accelerated its decline after the post-meeting press conference as a more hawkish tone from the RBA supported the Australian dollar, while tech stocks led the local losses.