Weekend report 20/09/2025 07:59

Weekend Q&A: The Fed cuts 0.25%, but only US stocks celebrate the easing

The ASX200 ended last week down 1% with only the rate-sensitive tech, consumer discretionary and utilities sectors taking some solace from the Fed's 0.25% rate cut. The energy sector stood out in the losers enclosure, dropping 4% after Abu Dhabi National Oil Co’s investment arm, XRG, walked away from its $36.4bn bid for Santos (STO). The market traded in another tight 150-point/1.7% range as the Fed rate cut failed to deliver any meaningful lead.

Afternoon report 19/09/2025 17:24

The Match Out: ASX chalks up 3rd weekly loss

The ASX opened with a bang this morning but closed with more of a whimper after the Bank of Japan held rates steady at 0.5% as expected but surprised markets by announcing plans to sell down its massive ETF and REIT holdings, weighing on Japanese equities (Nikkei -0.9%), and dragging the ASX back from early highs.

Morning report 19/09/2025 09:34

ETF Friday: Three solid ETFs for exposure to Chinese Tech & AI

Chinese tech stocks posted a near four-year high on Thursday as AI-fuelled buying and a regulatory ban on an Nvidia Corp. chip boosted prospects for domestic rivals. The Hang Seng Tech Index rose as much as 2% on Thursday, before fading into the close, building on Wednesday’s 4.2% rally that marked its highest close since November 2021. Gains followed a Chinese regulator’s order to halt imports for Nvidia’s RTX Pro 6000D, seen as a boost for domestic chipmakers. Chinese chipmaker SMIC contributed the most to the tech index’s advance, with shares surging as much as 8.3% in Hong Kong. Hua Hong Semiconductor Ltd. jumped as much as 13%. Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Baidu Inc., which are developing their homegrown alternatives to foreign chips, also rose.

Afternoon report 18/09/2025 17:05

The Match Out: ASX weak as the bid for Santos falls over

It was a weak session for the Australian share market as energy stocks collapsed following the news that Abu Dhabi National Oil Co had walked away from its $36bn bid for Santos, while a weaker than expected jobs report out at 11.30am this morning saw a rotation out of equities into safer havens, such as bonds, pushing yields lower. All ASX sectors finished in the red, bar a small gain from tech.

Morning report 18/09/2025 09:57

Looking for value in a “rich” market after the Fed cuts rates

This morning, the Fed delivered as expected, while the rhetoric led to volatility but ultimately a mixed close for stocks: • The Fed cut interest rates by 0.25% as expected and pencilled in 2 more cuts before Christmas. • However, looking ahead at the outlook for additional rate moves, Powell was cautious, saying the Fed was now in a “meeting-by-meeting situation.” • The vote was 11-1, with Governor Miran dissenting in favour of 0.5%; he will now be on Trump's Christmas card list. • Chair Jerome Powell pointed to growing signs of weakness in the labour market to explain why officials decided it was time to cut rates after holding them steady since December amid concerns over tariff-driven inflation.

Afternoon report 17/09/2025 17:13

The Match Out: ASX falls ahead of Fed rate call tonight

The ASX gave back ground today after opening only a touch softer; selling quickly set in as traders sat on their hands amid a general risk off feel ahead of the Fed’s rate call tonight. The sharp selloff was met some buying at the ~8800 level, bouncing midmorning but tracked sideways into the afternoon.

Morning report 17/09/2025 09:37

Portfolio Positioning: Less than 24 hours until we hear the eagerly awaited news from the Fed

Afternoon report 16/09/2025 18:13

The Match Out: ASX inches higher again, New Hope (NHC) reports solid result

The market managed to grind out a gain today, helped along by the miners, with particularly strong showings from gold, iron ore and uranium as all three surged on different drivers – we’re taking a breather on gold and took a profit on our Evolution Mining position. Not a lot happening on the macro side to move markets today as all eyes await the Fed rate decision on Thursday, though bits and pieces on the stock front kept things interesting across the retail and resources space.

Alerts 16/09/2025 09:59

Trade Alerts – Active Growth & International Equities Portfolio

We are amending two portfolios this morning.

Morning report 16/09/2025 09:46

What Matters Today: Is it time to fade the weakness in the global healthcare sector?

The ASX 200 slipped 0.1% on Monday as investors continued to “buy the dip”, allowing the market to recover from an initial 0.8% fall. The winners managed to outnumber the losers on the main board, but weakness in heavyweights CBA, BHP and CSL was enough to drag the index into negative territory, albeit just.