The Match Out: Volatility back in markets as Trump gets underway

Volatility is back as Trump gets his feet under the desk in the Oval Office; the ASX 200 trading in a broad ~100pt trading range today finishing around the mid-point as he pushed through ~100 executive orders that ranged from curtailing hiring of federal employees, freezing regulations, withdrawing the U.S. from a climate treaty to fight global warming, promoting development of domestic energy production, and taking action to reduce consumer costs, among others.

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Morning report 01/05/2025 12:05

What Matters Today: Uranium shorts are enormous, a dramatic “squeeze” could be in the offing

The ASX 200 popped higher in the last hour of April trade, taking the local index up 3.6% for the month. This has been a dramatic and impressive turnaround considering the carnage following “Liberation Day.” Similarly, global stocks were sitting up +0.5% ahead of overnight trade with the US reporting season set to take the markets' focus, at least for a week or two.

Afternoon report 30/04/2025 16:54

The Match Out: ASX shrugs off hotter inflation data, charges through 8,100

The ASX opened stronger following robust trading overnight as US investors shrugged off weak economic data and continued a rotation into risk on stocks as SP 500 companies impress on quarterly earnings. Key data releases locally mid-morning threatened to shake investor confidence — weaker Chinese manufacturing figures and a hotter-than-expected domestic CPI print.

Morning report 30/04/2025 09:48

Portfolio Positioning: The ASX200 makes 9-week highs, and people are still bearish

The ASX200 rallied strongly throughout Tuesday, hardly taking a backwards step all day to close up +0.9% on broad-based buying that saw almost 90% of the main board close higher. Local stocks are benefiting from some overseas money finding its way into the ASX, which has outperformed the US in 2025, although a few months doesn’t make a year.

Afternoon report 29/04/2025 17:49

The Match Out: Quarterlies provide a spark, ASX continues hot streak

Another strong session played out on the ASX today with the Australian Futures market not to be relied on, indicating a 16pt rise pre-open, the market exploded out of the gates as a slew of solid quarterly production reports from the mining sector provided a spark with BHP, Fortescue and Rio accounting for ~25% of the total index gain.

Morning report 30/04/2025 10:19

What Matters Today: Three ASX stocks very exposed to a global slowdown

The ASX200 struggled to hold onto early gains on Monday, not helped by weakness across US Futures and local heavyweights CBA and BHP. The market ultimately finished up 28-points after surrendering ~65% of the early gains, but over 70% of the main board closed higher, led by strong moves across the energy and tech sectors.

Afternoon report 28/04/2025 16:38

The Match Out: ASX limps into the close after a strong open

The ASX opened with a bang this morning hitting a 8051 high early on – up ~80pts, taking the rally from the April 7 low to +882pts/12.3%. However, profit taking emerged from mid-morning with the index losing ~70% of the morning gains.

Morning report 28/04/2025 09:32

Macro Monday: Good old-fashioned earnings drive stocks higher

Last week saw the S&P 500 enjoy its longest advance since January, rising +4.6%, taking the index back above the psychological 5500 level. After an exceptionally volatile month, the index is less than 2% below where it exited March, while the tech-based NASDAQ is actually higher.

Afternoon report 24/04/2025 16:48

The Match Out: ASX gains while US & China play chicken on trade policy

The ASX charged upward once again today, with 5 out of the last 7 sessions ending higher as investors continue to bank on rhetoric out of the Whitehouse that a deal getting done between the US and China is only a matter of time.

Morning report 24/04/2025 11:55

What Matters Today: As gold plunges, which stocks does MM like & where?

The ASX 200 sprang out of the blocks on Wednesday after the stunning reversal on Wall Street following bullish rhetoric from US President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The local index may have drifted slightly in the afternoon, but it still closed up over 100 points on broad-based gains outside of the gold sector - more on this later.

Afternoon report 23/04/2025 17:25

The Match Out: ASX moves higher on US-China trade talk optimism

Energy and mining stocks led the ASX higher, driven by hopes that tariffs on China could be less severe than first thought after a softer tone toward negotiations from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent overnight. A deal isn’t done, nor have discussions started between the world’s two largest economies, but the market took an inch and ran a mile.