The ASX 200 slipped another 0.4% on Wednesday, its third consecutive decline, which was not enough to take the index into negative territory for the year, but it's trying hard. After a brief attempt to bounce on Tuesday, the growth stocks returned to the losers enclosure while the resources delivered another standout performance to mitigate the day's decline.
The ASX200 retreated another -0.7% on Tuesday, leaving the index up only +1.2% for 2026 - not too bad considering the current geopolitical tensions unsettling markets. Selling wasn’t particularly broad-based in yesterday’s session, with over 40% of the main board closing higher, but when the “Big Four” banks and BHP Group (BHP) find themselves in the naughty corner, the local bourse is always going to struggle.
Monday saw the ASX 200 open softly and drift lower to close down -0.3% following President Trump's threats to impose levies on countries opposing his plans to take control of Greenland. Conversely, safe-haven demand pushed gold to fresh all-time highs near $US4,700, while silver surged more than 4%, also notching new record highs. Not surprisingly, gold stocks followed suit, but if MM is correct, it’s time to consider taking some money off the table in precious metals.
It is still early, but so far the year has been encouraging for global equity investors, with stocks pushing higher through January as markets look to extend a fourth consecutive year of solid returns. However, bulls are facing their first crucial test of 2026 with Greenland tensions growing and quarterly US earnings about to start.
Firstly, from James, Shawn & the MM Team, we wish you a happy and safe festive season. Many thanks for being a wonderful group of members, and your ongoing support throughout the year. It's been a year of two halves for the ASX and MM in many ways, but we’re finishing on the right foot across all portfolios. In todays note, we’ll run through portfolio performance, in a lighter style Christmas Eve report. A reminder, if you are considering investment options in 2026, all Market Matters Portfolios are now open for investment, via Market Matters Invest Direct, including the International Equities Portfolio which has had a stellar year, up over 25%. We will continue to work hard in 2026, building on a solid 2025.
The ASX 200 surged to a 5-week high on Monday, closing up +0.9% as the traditional lack of selling during the festive season was met with fairly aggressive buying across the miners, who spent much of the day jockeying for position on the leaderboard. Interestingly, even as gold and silver surged to new all-time highs and copper flirted with its equivalent milestone, it was the uranium names that won this particular race:
With a few trading days remaining, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most polarised on the performance front in decades - the materials sector is up +28%, while tech is down -21% and healthcare is off -24%. The ASX200 is up ~6% (10% inclusive of dividends) camouflaging the volatile activity on both the stock and sector levels.
The ASX 200 finally found some Christmas cheer on Thursday, reversing early losses to close marginally higher, not yet the Santa Rally that we’ve been hoping for, but better than another down day. Less than 55% of the main board closed higher, but a +1.1% advance by BHP was enough to add 8 points to the index, dragging it back into positive territory. It was an extremely quiet day as traders started to focus on the Christmas break, although two stocks still managed to move by over 15%.
The ASX200 closed down another -0.2% on Wednesday, but this time it bounced well off its lows to close near its intra-day high, helped by a strong rally by the miners throughout the day. At the end of the session, the materials sector was the only one of the eleven to advance, but its +1.6% rise was enough to offset much of the broad-based losses spearheaded by the healthcare and energy stocks.
The ASX 200 dropped 0.4% on Tuesday, reversing early gains as the tech and energy sectors led the decline, falling by 2.5% and 2.2%, respectively. However, it was the miners that dragged the index lower, with the materials sector contributing more than 40% of the drop as profit taking rolled across the space. The selling was triggered on two fronts as global investors adopted an “if in doubt, get out” approach ahead of key US jobs data, and of course, Christmas.
The ASX200 retreated another -0.7% on Tuesday, leaving the index up only +1.2% for 2026 - not too bad considering the current geopolitical tensions unsettling markets. Selling wasn’t particularly broad-based in yesterday’s session, with over 40% of the main board closing higher, but when the “Big Four” banks and BHP Group (BHP) find themselves in the naughty corner, the local bourse is always going to struggle.
Monday saw the ASX 200 open softly and drift lower to close down -0.3% following President Trump's threats to impose levies on countries opposing his plans to take control of Greenland. Conversely, safe-haven demand pushed gold to fresh all-time highs near $US4,700, while silver surged more than 4%, also notching new record highs. Not surprisingly, gold stocks followed suit, but if MM is correct, it’s time to consider taking some money off the table in precious metals.
It is still early, but so far the year has been encouraging for global equity investors, with stocks pushing higher through January as markets look to extend a fourth consecutive year of solid returns. However, bulls are facing their first crucial test of 2026 with Greenland tensions growing and quarterly US earnings about to start.
Firstly, from James, Shawn & the MM Team, we wish you a happy and safe festive season. Many thanks for being a wonderful group of members, and your ongoing support throughout the year. It's been a year of two halves for the ASX and MM in many ways, but we’re finishing on the right foot across all portfolios. In todays note, we’ll run through portfolio performance, in a lighter style Christmas Eve report. A reminder, if you are considering investment options in 2026, all Market Matters Portfolios are now open for investment, via Market Matters Invest Direct, including the International Equities Portfolio which has had a stellar year, up over 25%. We will continue to work hard in 2026, building on a solid 2025.
The ASX 200 surged to a 5-week high on Monday, closing up +0.9% as the traditional lack of selling during the festive season was met with fairly aggressive buying across the miners, who spent much of the day jockeying for position on the leaderboard. Interestingly, even as gold and silver surged to new all-time highs and copper flirted with its equivalent milestone, it was the uranium names that won this particular race:
With a few trading days remaining, 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most polarised on the performance front in decades - the materials sector is up +28%, while tech is down -21% and healthcare is off -24%. The ASX200 is up ~6% (10% inclusive of dividends) camouflaging the volatile activity on both the stock and sector levels.
The ASX 200 finally found some Christmas cheer on Thursday, reversing early losses to close marginally higher, not yet the Santa Rally that we’ve been hoping for, but better than another down day. Less than 55% of the main board closed higher, but a +1.1% advance by BHP was enough to add 8 points to the index, dragging it back into positive territory. It was an extremely quiet day as traders started to focus on the Christmas break, although two stocks still managed to move by over 15%.
The ASX200 closed down another -0.2% on Wednesday, but this time it bounced well off its lows to close near its intra-day high, helped by a strong rally by the miners throughout the day. At the end of the session, the materials sector was the only one of the eleven to advance, but its +1.6% rise was enough to offset much of the broad-based losses spearheaded by the healthcare and energy stocks.
The ASX 200 dropped 0.4% on Tuesday, reversing early gains as the tech and energy sectors led the decline, falling by 2.5% and 2.2%, respectively. However, it was the miners that dragged the index lower, with the materials sector contributing more than 40% of the drop as profit taking rolled across the space. The selling was triggered on two fronts as global investors adopted an “if in doubt, get out” approach ahead of key US jobs data, and of course, Christmas.
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