What Matters Today: ETF Friday focuses on Equities Indices, amid the market rout

The ASX 200 fell 0.9% on Thursday, a win compared to the melt-down unfolding across global markets. The key takeaway from Trump’s much-discussed global tariffs is that the US now risks a recession this year, and inflation could surge, a worrying combination for equities. The only positive on the day was that markets have increased bets that the Fed will cut rates further through 2025 despite the possible uptick in inflation. Credit markets are now pricing in nearly four rate cuts by the Fed into Christmas. Ironically, US equities and the dollar bore some of the worst selling on speculation the president’s trade offensive will stunt the American economy, which is certainly understandable – tariffs are ultimately bad for growth, the US looks to have kicked an own goal, for now at least.

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Afternoon report 04/11/2025 17:09

The Match Out: Stocks drop; RBA holds rates unchanged as expected

The ASX 200 slid to a six-week low with the RBA’s final decision of the year yielding no change to the cash rate – 10/11 sectors were down on low activity due to the Melbourne Cup shenanigans

Morning report 04/11/2025 22:23

What Matters Today: Can the Banking sector defy sceptics and follow Westpac higher?

The ASX 200 produced a strong recovery on Monday afternoon to close up +0.2%, more than 0.7% off its late morning low. Westpac (WBC) drove the banks and ASX higher as investors took an increasingly bullish view of its FY25 result, the longer the day progressed - more on the banks later. In typical 2025 fashion, moves on the stock and sector level were very polarised on the first trading day of November, with the financials adding more than +38 points to the main board while materials and healthcare names detracted over -28 points.

Afternoon report 03/11/2025 17:11

The Match Out: ASX edges higher, Westpac reports & rallies

The ASX finished mildly higher on the first trading day of November, largely underpinned by a solid day for the banks with the big 4 contributing +36pts to the main boards gain as Westpac reported FY results and rallied – more on their result below.

Morning report 03/11/2025 09:52

Macro Monday: Have Central Banks & inflation changed the market dynamic?

Wall Street ended October on a strong note, with AI enthusiasm, solid corporate earnings, and looser financial conditions propelling equities to a sixth straight month of gains, while credit markets marked their third consecutive advance.

Weekend report 01/11/2025 09:49

Weekend Q&A: With a rate cut off the table, the ASX has lost a major tailwind

The ASX200 ended the week down -1.5% as rate-sensitive stocks weighed on the market following Australia's hotter than expected CPI and Jerome Powell's message that another Fed rate cut in December was no foregone conclusion. Another strong week by uranium and copper names did little to dent the selling across the healthcare, tech, real estate and retail sectors, with some big and influential names front and centre, dragging the index back under the 8900 level, even as US indices continued to post fresh highs:

Afternoon report 31/10/2025 17:09

The Match Out: ASX rallies early, closes in negative territory

The ASX was a story of two tales today, with early gains driven by gold miners and the major banks as global risk sentiment improved following progress in US–China trade talks.

Alerts 31/10/2025 09:56

Trade Alert – Emerging Companies Portfolio

We are making two changes to the Emerging Companies Portfolio

Morning report 31/10/2025 09:48

ETF Friday: Three ETFs that could benefit from higher bond yields/interest rates

The ASX 200 slipped 0.5% on the penultimate day of October, as strength across lithium, copper, and uranium names failed to offset another weak session for rate-sensitive sectors. Consumer discretionary (-4.2%) and real estate (-2.7%) led the declines, with notable heavyweights Wesfarmers (WES) -7.1% and JB Hi-Fi (JBH) -4.5% dragging the index lower.

Afternoon report 30/10/2025 17:51

The Match Out: Rate sensitive stocks hit, MinRes (MIN) turns the corner

The ASX extended its losses on Thursday, as investors continued to digest hotter-than-expected local inflation data and a more cautious tone from US Fed Chair Jerome Powell overnight

Alerts 30/10/2025 10:05