Weekend Q&A: Volatility spiked on Friday after Israel launches strikes on Iran

The ASX200 endured a week to remember, closing down -2.8% on concerns that interest rates will remain “higher for longer” and increasing concerns that the Middle East tensions will deteriorate further after Israel retaliated against Iran following last week’s drone attack. It’s hard to imagine an amicable conclusion to the current problems in the Middle East, but we all hope it doesn’t become another painful, prolonged affair like the Ukraine–Russia war, which has now entered its 26th month.

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Morning report 24/02/2026 09:43

What Matters Today: Three Companies that missed the mark, but has the market hit them too hard?

The ASX200 wobbled on Monday, as was largely expected, following Trump's tariff tantrum over the weekend, which created uncertainty around US trade policy. The local bourse slipped 0.6%, with over 70% of the main board retreating, but another strong session from the miners stemmed the losses, with heavyweight BHP again posting a fresh all-time high, closing up +19% year-to-date.

Afternoon report 23/02/2026 17:30

The Match Out: US Tariff hike shrugged off early, selling intensifies through the session

The ASX drifted lower as renewed uncertainty around US trade policy weighed on risk appetite, while gold extended its rally. Markets reacted to the US Supreme Court curbing President Trump’s tariff powers, prompting him to flag a temporary 15% blanket tariff on imports. The policy whiplash lifted safe havens, pushed the Aussie dollar towards US70.9c, and reignited selling pressure in technology.

Morning report 23/02/2026 09:25

Macro Monday: Don’t panic around Trumps 15% tariffs

On Friday, the US Supreme Court struck down most of Trump’s sweeping tariff policy under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, ruling in a 6-3 vote that the law does not authorise the president to impose tariffs. Markets reacted positively to the ruling, with stocks rising, including Amazon, up more than 2%, alongside gains in retailers Home Depot and Five Below, amid hopes of relief from tariff-driven cost pressures and sticky inflation.

Weekend report 21/02/2026 10:11

Weekend Q&A: Markets hang around all-time highs as Trump’s tariffs are thrown into limbo

It was another bruising but ultimately constructive week for Australian equities, with the ASX200 finishing higher and holding close to all-time highs despite wild stock-level volatility as reporting season met the ongoing AI debate head-on. The index was again pulled in different directions under the surface, with sharp rotations between sectors and increasingly binary outcomes on earnings day. Strong results were rewarded aggressively, while any hint of disappointment was met with little mercy.

Afternoon report 20/02/2026 17:06

The Match Out: ASX holds steady near highs, QBE lifts on bumper result

The ASX slipped modestly today, though still managed a solid +1.84% gain over the week. A bounce from the low of the day was sustained as buyers stepped in through the session, despite tensions in the Middle East. Index moves will continue to hinge on single stock results, though the magnitude of moves likely fades given the heavyweight stocks have now come and gone this reporting season.

Morning report 20/02/2026 09:22

ETF Friday: Looking at Energy ETFs as Oil breaks above $US70/barrel

The ASX 200 posted a new intra-day high on Thursday before slipping into the close, ending a strong day up 79 points, or 0.9%. As reporting season gathers pace, yesterday’s session delivered another round of outsized moves from companies both beating and missing expectations.

Afternoon report 19/02/2026 17:28

The Match Out: ASX hits new all-time high amid a flurry of earnings reports

The ASX rallied today, hitting a new all-time high at 9118 (+3pts above the Oct high) before tapering off into the afternoon. Still, its longest winning streak in more than a month, corresponding with one of the busiest days on the reporting calendar. More beats than misses, and solid overall, but still a few landmines to navigate.

Morning report 19/02/2026 09:46

What Matters Today: Delving into this month’s Bank of America Fund Managers Survey

The ASX 200 rallied for a 3rd consecutive day on Wednesday, closing back above the psychological 9000 level courtesy of a 4% rally by NAB following another solid earnings update from a “Big Four” bank.

Afternoon report 18/02/2026 17:12

The Match Out: ASX 200 breaks back through 9000, Tech & Property rally

The ASX pushed higher for a third straight session, with financials and technology doing the heavy lifting as reporting season continued to deliver outsized single-stock moves.

Morning report 18/02/2026 09:49

Portfolio Positioning: CBA last week, BHP yesterday, will things happen in threes?

The ASX200 surrendered much of its early gains on Tuesday but still ended the day up 0.2%. We almost felt like a one-stock index at times yesterday with BHP at one stage popping above $54, up more than 7%, for the first time. Even with the “Big Australian” closing back under $53, up +4.7% on the day, it still added 40-points to the ASX200, basically double its net gain on the day