Monday 20th April – ASX 200 up 6 – Good comeback – US Futures ease on Dire Straits news – Gold miners up – NAB takes a hit!

20 Monday Apr 2026

Posted by in Daily Reports

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The ASX 200 fought back from early losses to close up just 6 points to 8953. US futures were negative all day, some defensive buying and CBA helping keep the market flat. CBA rose % with the Big Bank Basket rising to $299.12 (0.2%) as NAB fell 3.6% as it ramped up provisions for a weakening local economy. Other financials drifted lower, REITs were firm, GMG up 1.5% and VCX rising 0.8%. Retailers were better, WES showing a rare 2.4% gain, LOV up 4.4% and HVN rallying 0.9%. Tech was drifting lower, WTC off 1.5% and the All-Tech Index flat. WOW and COL rose as did TLS rising 0.2%. Healthcare mixed, SIG down 0.7% and PME easing 2.7%.

Resources were mixed, oil and gas fell, WDS down 2.9% and STO off 1.3% with uranium stocks slipping, PDN down 5.4% on research comments. Iron ore miners drifted lower despite higher IO prices in Singapore. Lithium flat after a strong start, gold miners surprising to the upside, EVN up 1.8% and NEM up 2.1%.

In corporate news, 4DX fell 2.6% after a GSK contract win. KAR had its credit rating reaffirmed. WOR warned of an earnings hit due to the Iranian conflict.

Asian markets saw modest gains – Japan up 0.5%, HK up 0.7% and China up 0.5%. 10-year yields rise to 5.0%.

US Futures ease, Nasdaq down 180, Dow down 370. Europe is opening down around 1-1.5%.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: SKS, FML, ZIP, RAC, JHX, NGI
  • Losers: DTR, VEA, SRL, AEL, KAR, EQR
  • Positive Sectors: Gold miners. Retail. Supermarkets. Banks.
  • Negative Sectors: Iron ore. Tech. Uranium. Oil and Gas.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8955 Lo 8898 .
  • Big Bank Basket: Rises to $299.12 (+0.2%)
  • All-Tech Index: Flat.
  • Gold: Steady at $6699
  • Bitcoin: Steady at US$74552
  • 10-year yields: Falls to 4.93%
  • AUD: Eases to 71.48c.

MARKET MOVERS

  • SKS +17.6% contract win.
  • ZIP +7.7% broker upgrades.
  • RAC +7.7% good to see.
  • NGI +6.1% solid update.
  • HZR +10.3% quarterly activities.
  • GML +12.1% trading halt. ASX Price query.
  • EUR +8.2% CRML and EUR acquires controlling interest in Tanbreez.
  • RML +8.1% upcoming Nasdaq listing and new NED.
  • SRL -8.1% profit taking.
  • DTR -10.6% cloud remains.
  • VEA -9.1% refinery update.
  • WOR -5.8% update on oil price exposure.
  • PDN -5.4% broker changes
  • OCC -7.7% Investor presentation.
  • PLY -17.1% global launch of MOUSE PI
  • Yesterday’s Hero: NYM +22.6%
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: EMD +16.7% Launches global partnership program.

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • ASX Limited says its CHESS Release 1 is now live and providing clearing services, with all approved market operators successfully connected ahead of market open.
  • Iron ore prices rose in Singapore. Futures of the steel-making ingredient in Singapore climbed as much as 0.6% to reach $106.40, reversing an earlier drop.
  • Global power consumption grew 3% last year, driven partly by fast-growing demand from electric vehicles and data centres, according to the IEA. In advanced economies, electricity demand expanded by a robust 1.6% year-over-year, with particularly strong growth in the United States.”
  • Solar was the largest contributor to growth in global energy supply for the first time in 2025, according to the IEA.
  • Copper fell from its highest close since early February, as ceasefire talks between Washington and Tehran were thrown into uncertainty.
  • Starmer battles for Downing Street future amid Mandelson vetting scandal.
  • Ukraine’s drone pilots hit Russian targets from 500km away.

And finally….

Clarence

XXXX

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