The Weekend Q&A: Another crypto nightmare sends the ASX to fresh 8-week lows

The ASX200 plunged -166 points/2.28% on Friday resulting in a -1.9% decline for the week, not too bad considering the likes of BHP Group (BHP), RIO Tinto (RIO), and CSL Ltd (CSL) all traded ex-dividend but it certainly felt far worse at 4 pm yesterday afternoon. This week’s issue wasn’t the macroeconomic picture that’s plagued equities all year but another negative “Black Swan” shock from crypto land as silicon valley bank SVB Financial (SIVB US) struggles to remain in business – we’ve even heard suggestions of a US bailout from Walls Street legend Bill Ackman. Whatever the ultimate result it confirms our opinion that Bitcoin et al is not an investment-grade option until further notice.

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Morning report 17/04/2025 09:38

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Afternoon report 16/04/2025 17:42

The Match Out: ASX climbs then fades, BOQ impresses on margins

The ASX200 tried hard to rally throughout the session shrugging off early weakness in S&P500 futures as tech giant Nvidia announced new licensing requirements for US chipmakers exporting to China could cost the firm $US8bn a quarter causing the stock to trade down ~6% in after-hours trade.

Morning report 16/04/2025 09:54

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Afternoon report 15/04/2025 17:03

The Match Out: Banks follow U.S peers up early, ASX runs out of steam late

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Morning report 15/04/2025 11:16

What Matters Today: Can the Australian “Big Banks” deliver like their US peers?

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Afternoon report 14/04/2025 17:07

The Match Out: Sellers dwindle, ASX moves higher on tariff optimism

The ASX shot out of the gates, far above the slated +18pt rise indicated by SPI futures pre-market, +60pts on the open and grinding another +40pts higher slowly but surely over the day, as 10 out of 11 sectors finished in positive territory. The market took U.S President Donald Trump’s move to exempt selected consumer electronics from tariffs as a signal of willingness to be somewhat flexible and practical with his policies and negotiations more broadly.

Morning report 14/04/2025 09:46

Macro Monday: Trump blinks first in tariff war against China

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Weekend report 12/04/2025 10:05

Weekend Q&A: Tariff chaos and the S&P500 enjoys its best week since 2023!

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Afternoon report 11/04/2025 16:59

The Match Out: ASX gaps down, surges to close on intra-day high

Risk-off sentiment spilled over from overseas markets as the ASX gapped down -180pts on the open despite SPI futures indicating a less severe -115pt drop. Investors flocked to safe haven gold as the precious metal hit yet another all-time high above $US3100, with heavy selling in the growthier end of the market kicking things off.