The ASX200 plunged -166 points/2.28% on Friday resulting in a -1.9% decline for the week, not too bad considering the likes of BHP Group (BHP), RIO Tinto (RIO), and CSL Ltd (CSL) all traded ex-dividend but it certainly felt far worse at 4 pm yesterday afternoon. This week’s issue wasn’t the macroeconomic picture that’s plagued equities all year but another negative “Black Swan” shock from crypto land as silicon valley bank SVB Financial (SIVB US) struggles to remain in business – we’ve even heard suggestions of a US bailout from Walls Street legend Bill Ackman. Whatever the ultimate result it confirms our opinion that Bitcoin et al is not an investment-grade option until further notice.
The ASX200 slipped another -0.3% last week but in our opinion, it felt like a solid performance as equities shrugged off short-term bond yields continuing their unrelenting march to multi-month/year highs i.e. The Australian 3-year closed above 3.6% as they edged ever closer to fresh 20-year highs around 3.8% while the US 2-years did scale fresh 15 year highs above 4.9%. As we often say markets that don’t fall on “bad news” are strong:
The ASX200 slipped another -0.5% last week with a -4.3% drop by heavyweight BHP weighing on both the index and the Materials Sector, however, the market’s pullback has started to lose momentum as company earnings fail to deliver the disasters many had feared/expected. Reporting season remains the dominant factor on the stock level but it’s interesting that things aren’t panning out as would be expected on the sector level:
Friday’s tough day for equities took the ASX200 lower for a second consecutive week, almost 3% below its early February high. Reporting season has created some major volatility on the stock/sector level which is no surprise but its not common to see Commonwealth Bank (CBA) lead both the sector and index lower - Australia’s largest banks closed down -8.2% for the week with the average fall across the “Big Four” come Friday being -5.6%, remember MM often says “the market cannot go up with the banks”.
The ASX200 surrendered some of its 2023 gains last week finally closing down -1.65% with the 7400 support area suddenly the closest psychological level as the market appears to have simply run out of steam after surging +9.6% from its early January low. Last weeks weakness was broad based with all 11 sectors falling but the largest declines were in the interest rate sensitive real estate, IT and Healthcare stocks whereas the financials who often see improved margins/earnings through periods of rising interest rates were the best on ground, but they still slipped -0.35%. Central banks have again delivered the backdrop which has doused the markets recent mojo:
The ASX200 rallied another +65-points, or +0.9%, last week with most of the gains coming on Friday courtesy of the major banks, as most people know Commonwealth Bank (CBA) is now trading at an all-time high. However, while the index is clearly strong the story beneath the hood remains extremely mixed:
Winners: healthcare, tech, building and property e.g. CSL Ltd (CSL) +11.4%, SEEK (SEK) +9.8%, Xero (XRO) +8.9%, James Hardie (JHX) +9.5% and Goodman Group (GMG) +5.2%.
Losers: energy, insurance, resources e.g. Woodside Energy (WDS) -2.2%, IAG Insurance (IAG) -6.9%, IGO Ltd (IGO) -7.4% and BHP Group (BHP) -3.3%.
The ASX200 has now advanced +6.5% this month and we’ve still got two trading days remaining for January with Monday set to open back above 7500. The local Tech Sector led the gains last week rallying +2.8% supported by Real Estate +2.5% which was impressive considering that the local inflation data came in far worse than expected suggesting further rate hikes lay ahead but as we’ve alluded to previously news thats “not too bad” is now being embraced by the battered growth stocks. Under the hood the winners and losers circle was made up of 2 very different groups of companies:
The ASX200 has now advanced +5.9% this month and we’ve still got more than a week to go! The buying has been broad-based with only 14% of the main board down so far in 2023 however it has been the strength in the strength in the influential banks, healthcare and resource stocks that’s driven the index higher. The gains in the following 6 stocks illustrate the story of the tape in January:
The ASX200 struggled under the weight of the central bank’s rate hikes and net hawkish rhetoric last week although bonds didn’t pay any attention which actually suggests to us it was more a case of stocks had run too hard, too fast from their October lows e.g. In only 2 months the ASX200 surged +15%. Under the hood of the market, it was a mixed bag with strong energy and real estate stocks being more than offset by selling in the miners and healthcare names.
Most of us already know the respective moves by the major central banks over the week but the standout 3 points were as follows:
The ASX200 bounced into the close on Friday but it wasn’t enough to prevent an 88-point decline over the week, the selling was broad-based across the 5 days with some strength in the gold and defensive stocks unable to halt the -1.2% dip. The local index was trading around 7320 just before the RBA’s 0.25% rate hike last week after which we expressed the view that it would take 1-2 weeks for stocks to put the move into the rear-view mirror, perhaps the buyers will return next week with Christmas only a fortnight away.
The ASX200 slipped another -0.3% last week but in our opinion, it felt like a solid performance as equities shrugged off short-term bond yields continuing their unrelenting march to multi-month/year highs i.e. The Australian 3-year closed above 3.6% as they edged ever closer to fresh 20-year highs around 3.8% while the US 2-years did scale fresh 15 year highs above 4.9%. As we often say markets that don’t fall on “bad news” are strong:
The ASX200 slipped another -0.5% last week with a -4.3% drop by heavyweight BHP weighing on both the index and the Materials Sector, however, the market’s pullback has started to lose momentum as company earnings fail to deliver the disasters many had feared/expected. Reporting season remains the dominant factor on the stock level but it’s interesting that things aren’t panning out as would be expected on the sector level:
Friday’s tough day for equities took the ASX200 lower for a second consecutive week, almost 3% below its early February high. Reporting season has created some major volatility on the stock/sector level which is no surprise but its not common to see Commonwealth Bank (CBA) lead both the sector and index lower - Australia’s largest banks closed down -8.2% for the week with the average fall across the “Big Four” come Friday being -5.6%, remember MM often says “the market cannot go up with the banks”.
The ASX200 surrendered some of its 2023 gains last week finally closing down -1.65% with the 7400 support area suddenly the closest psychological level as the market appears to have simply run out of steam after surging +9.6% from its early January low. Last weeks weakness was broad based with all 11 sectors falling but the largest declines were in the interest rate sensitive real estate, IT and Healthcare stocks whereas the financials who often see improved margins/earnings through periods of rising interest rates were the best on ground, but they still slipped -0.35%. Central banks have again delivered the backdrop which has doused the markets recent mojo:
The ASX200 rallied another +65-points, or +0.9%, last week with most of the gains coming on Friday courtesy of the major banks, as most people know Commonwealth Bank (CBA) is now trading at an all-time high. However, while the index is clearly strong the story beneath the hood remains extremely mixed:
Winners: healthcare, tech, building and property e.g. CSL Ltd (CSL) +11.4%, SEEK (SEK) +9.8%, Xero (XRO) +8.9%, James Hardie (JHX) +9.5% and Goodman Group (GMG) +5.2%.
Losers: energy, insurance, resources e.g. Woodside Energy (WDS) -2.2%, IAG Insurance (IAG) -6.9%, IGO Ltd (IGO) -7.4% and BHP Group (BHP) -3.3%.
The ASX200 has now advanced +6.5% this month and we’ve still got two trading days remaining for January with Monday set to open back above 7500. The local Tech Sector led the gains last week rallying +2.8% supported by Real Estate +2.5% which was impressive considering that the local inflation data came in far worse than expected suggesting further rate hikes lay ahead but as we’ve alluded to previously news thats “not too bad” is now being embraced by the battered growth stocks. Under the hood the winners and losers circle was made up of 2 very different groups of companies:
The ASX200 has now advanced +5.9% this month and we’ve still got more than a week to go! The buying has been broad-based with only 14% of the main board down so far in 2023 however it has been the strength in the strength in the influential banks, healthcare and resource stocks that’s driven the index higher. The gains in the following 6 stocks illustrate the story of the tape in January:
The ASX200 struggled under the weight of the central bank’s rate hikes and net hawkish rhetoric last week although bonds didn’t pay any attention which actually suggests to us it was more a case of stocks had run too hard, too fast from their October lows e.g. In only 2 months the ASX200 surged +15%. Under the hood of the market, it was a mixed bag with strong energy and real estate stocks being more than offset by selling in the miners and healthcare names.
Most of us already know the respective moves by the major central banks over the week but the standout 3 points were as follows:
The ASX200 bounced into the close on Friday but it wasn’t enough to prevent an 88-point decline over the week, the selling was broad-based across the 5 days with some strength in the gold and defensive stocks unable to halt the -1.2% dip. The local index was trading around 7320 just before the RBA’s 0.25% rate hike last week after which we expressed the view that it would take 1-2 weeks for stocks to put the move into the rear-view mirror, perhaps the buyers will return next week with Christmas only a fortnight away.
Check your email for an email from [email protected]
Subject: Your OTP for Account Access
This email will have a code you can use as your One Time Password for instant access
Verication email sent.
Check your email for an email from [email protected]
Subject: Your OTP for Account Access
This email will have a code you can use as your One Time Password for instant access
!
Invalid One Time Password
Please check you entered the correct info, please also note there is a 10minute time limit on the One Time Passcode
To reset your password, enter your email address
A link to create a new password will be sent to the email address you have registered to your account.
Market Matters members receive daily market reports, real-time trade alerts, full access to 5 portfolios and dynamic company data.
Choose how you'd like to proceed:
We have a range of membership options to suit your needs and budget, why not join today and get unlimited access to the premium Market Matters service.
