The local market dropped ~100 points on the open, failing to see any reprieve following two weaker sessions out in the US since our close on Wednesday. After dropping back below 7600 the index traded in a reasonably tight 30-point range for the rest of the session, failing to join in on the rally across the region and what’s showing on the US Futures ahead of their Friday session. BHP managed to take 31pts off the market alone today, weakness coming after they lobbed an all scrip bid for Anglo American (AAL LN). Despite the soggy end to the week, the ASX200 finished marginally higher, +8pts / +0.11%.
Equities followed the US market higher this morning, also adding a little premium thanks to a handful of positive quarterly reports that were announced after the North American markets closed. That all took a back seat as inflation data printed late morning, CPI coming in hotter than expected which sent the market into a spin, falling ~0.6% at the time before finding some relief. In the end, the index closed little changed, a good result given the circumstances though largely thanks to support from the Big 4 banks.
Investors continued the 180-degree about-face from last week's sentiment, happy to take on risk for the second consecutive day to start this week seeing the ASX200 through a 200pt gain from Friday’s panic lows early in today’s session. Tech was the standout as US 2yr yields retreated (marginally) from the spike above 5% last week while Healthcare and Financials also joined in the rebound. Energy and Gold were the main areas finding it tough again today, for the same geopolitical reasons as Monday’s session.
Equity markets seemed to forget last week’s struggles, starting the week on the front foot. The best was seen early, at one stage the ASX200 was up more than 110 points before giving back some of the gains. The small cap index held on though and closed on the day’s high today. Improving headlines out of the Middle East was the main driver of the risk on attitude, though this worked against Gold and Energy today. The banks also found another naysayer as Citi moved negative on all of the Big 4, though ANZ was the only one to close lower.
Shares tracked pre-market futures lower early in our session before headlines of a further escalation in the Middle Eastern conflict caused another wave of selling took the market to 2 month lows. Energy found support with oil cracking $US90/bbl again which was also a concern for those positioned for inflation to roll off. Until midday, traders had no interest in taking risk in today’s session but the afternoon painted a different picture. The ASX closed well off the intraday lows with many sectors rallying more than 0.5% between midday and the end of trade. Despite the Friday afternoon fight, the local market had its worst week since September, falling -220pts / -2.83%.
The local market shook off weakness in the US overnight to open higher, largely thanks to our Resources exposure that continues to find some support following trade sanctions on both China and Russia. Late morning saw local employment data land with the mixed numbers largely disregarded by the market. Buying picked up in the early afternoon as yields started to roll off, though equities couldn’t go on with the move, ultimately though the 5-day losing streak for the ASX was snapped with a ~0.5% gain today.
After a muted open, the market seemed to find its groove, rallying 40pts from early lows into the lunchtime peak before buying stepped away. Shares had given back almost all of the gains by 4pm at which time the UK released their monthly CPI figure which was hotter than expected, sending down for the session, right on the close. There was little diversion between sectors, particularly when you strip out Utilities which was supported by the heavyweights of the area.
The local market is now on a 4-day losing streak – its worst run since January (5 sessions) – with today being the worst of the batch. As we said this morning, US stocks are leading the weakness, having fallen for six consecutive days; their worst losing streak since June. Equities were on the back foot early following a soft session overnight, stemming from strong-than-expected retail sales numbers, which put pressure on rate cut expectations. Early buyers were hurt today with the market not “feeling right all day”, come the close, 92% of the ASX200 finished down, and not surprisingly, all sectors finished lower today, though there was some relief late in the session as the index closed 27pts / 0.35% off the lows.
An escalation of aggression in the Middle East over the weekend was the main cause for concern today, weighing on the local market from the get-go. The weakness didn’t cause any contagion though, equities seemed pretty well supported after hitting a low just before midday, i.e. panic didn’t set in and traders are still using dips to edge into the ASX. Energy was the main winner today, that was despite Oil markets giving back some of the gains seen on Friday night. Materials were also surprisingly well-supported thanks to US imposing further sanctions on Russian commodities, a trade we are well-positioned for.
A choppy, range bound session on the ASX today with little conviction in either direction as we head into the weekend, and the start of School Holidays in NSW which leads to weaker volumes across the market.
Equities followed the US market higher this morning, also adding a little premium thanks to a handful of positive quarterly reports that were announced after the North American markets closed. That all took a back seat as inflation data printed late morning, CPI coming in hotter than expected which sent the market into a spin, falling ~0.6% at the time before finding some relief. In the end, the index closed little changed, a good result given the circumstances though largely thanks to support from the Big 4 banks.
Investors continued the 180-degree about-face from last week's sentiment, happy to take on risk for the second consecutive day to start this week seeing the ASX200 through a 200pt gain from Friday’s panic lows early in today’s session. Tech was the standout as US 2yr yields retreated (marginally) from the spike above 5% last week while Healthcare and Financials also joined in the rebound. Energy and Gold were the main areas finding it tough again today, for the same geopolitical reasons as Monday’s session.
Equity markets seemed to forget last week’s struggles, starting the week on the front foot. The best was seen early, at one stage the ASX200 was up more than 110 points before giving back some of the gains. The small cap index held on though and closed on the day’s high today. Improving headlines out of the Middle East was the main driver of the risk on attitude, though this worked against Gold and Energy today. The banks also found another naysayer as Citi moved negative on all of the Big 4, though ANZ was the only one to close lower.
Shares tracked pre-market futures lower early in our session before headlines of a further escalation in the Middle Eastern conflict caused another wave of selling took the market to 2 month lows. Energy found support with oil cracking $US90/bbl again which was also a concern for those positioned for inflation to roll off. Until midday, traders had no interest in taking risk in today’s session but the afternoon painted a different picture. The ASX closed well off the intraday lows with many sectors rallying more than 0.5% between midday and the end of trade. Despite the Friday afternoon fight, the local market had its worst week since September, falling -220pts / -2.83%.
The local market shook off weakness in the US overnight to open higher, largely thanks to our Resources exposure that continues to find some support following trade sanctions on both China and Russia. Late morning saw local employment data land with the mixed numbers largely disregarded by the market. Buying picked up in the early afternoon as yields started to roll off, though equities couldn’t go on with the move, ultimately though the 5-day losing streak for the ASX was snapped with a ~0.5% gain today.
After a muted open, the market seemed to find its groove, rallying 40pts from early lows into the lunchtime peak before buying stepped away. Shares had given back almost all of the gains by 4pm at which time the UK released their monthly CPI figure which was hotter than expected, sending down for the session, right on the close. There was little diversion between sectors, particularly when you strip out Utilities which was supported by the heavyweights of the area.
The local market is now on a 4-day losing streak – its worst run since January (5 sessions) – with today being the worst of the batch. As we said this morning, US stocks are leading the weakness, having fallen for six consecutive days; their worst losing streak since June. Equities were on the back foot early following a soft session overnight, stemming from strong-than-expected retail sales numbers, which put pressure on rate cut expectations. Early buyers were hurt today with the market not “feeling right all day”, come the close, 92% of the ASX200 finished down, and not surprisingly, all sectors finished lower today, though there was some relief late in the session as the index closed 27pts / 0.35% off the lows.
An escalation of aggression in the Middle East over the weekend was the main cause for concern today, weighing on the local market from the get-go. The weakness didn’t cause any contagion though, equities seemed pretty well supported after hitting a low just before midday, i.e. panic didn’t set in and traders are still using dips to edge into the ASX. Energy was the main winner today, that was despite Oil markets giving back some of the gains seen on Friday night. Materials were also surprisingly well-supported thanks to US imposing further sanctions on Russian commodities, a trade we are well-positioned for.
A choppy, range bound session on the ASX today with little conviction in either direction as we head into the weekend, and the start of School Holidays in NSW which leads to weaker volumes across the market.
