Friday 25th April – ASX falls 7 pts – Down 1.7% this week – Gold eases – IGO slumps _ FMG drops – US Futures mixed

24 Friday Apr 2026

Posted by in Daily Reports

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The ASX 200 fell 7 points to 8786 for the fourth straight day. It fought back from earlier losses, as banks steadied and traders squared up before another crucial weekend. The Big Bank Basket back up to $289.81 (+0.3%). Other financials saw some buyers return, SUN up 4.5% as it reaffirmed guidance, MQG jumped 0.7% and MPL also fighting back, up 1.8%. REITs were mixed, GMG fell 0.6% with healthcare finding some buyers to square up after a torrid week. CSL rose 0.8% and COH turned around early losses to close up 2.5%. Still a week to forget. Tech mixed, XRO up 0.3% and REA down 1.5%. Utilities firmed, ORG up 2.6% and APA doing well. Retail fell, APE off 2.5% and TPW falling 3.3%.

Resources were patchy. BHP flat, RIO dropped 0.2% and FMG disappointed falling 5.7% on quarterly. Gold miners too under pressure as oil trundles higher. EVN down 2.2% and NST off 3.5%. Oil and gas stocks pushed ahead, WDS up 2.6% and STO up 1.0%. Uranium stocks saw profit-taking. PDN down 2.6% and BMN falling back a little.

In corporate news, plenty of quarterlies, IGO smacked 17.9% on disappointment on spodumene production at Greenbushes. NXL jumped 15.0% on a court ruling with ASIC’s case dismissed, PLS up 1.6% after a good quarterly number. VUL jumped 3.1% after construction kicked off at Lionheart.

Nothing on the economic front. Oil up for five days in a row. 10-year yields ease to 4.98%

Asian markets mixed, Japan up 0.1%, China down 0.2% and HK up 0.2%. Oil up 1.3% in Asian trade

US Futures mixed, Nasdaq up 157 (Intel), Dow down 67. Europe is opening down again, off around 2% this week. Similar to ASX 200,down 1.8% this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: ELV, FRS, DGT, DTL, SRL, GLN
  • Losers: IGO, 4DX, DTR, EVT, FML, TVN, NMG
  • Positive Sectors: Banks. Oil and gas. Utilities.
  • Negative Sectors: Tech. Retail. Gold miners. REITs.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8799 Lo 8737 – Narrow range. ASX 200 down 1.8% this week.
  • Big Bank Basket: Rises to $288.80 (-0.8%)
  • All-Tech Index: Eases 0.9%.
  • Gold: Eases to $6573
  • Bitcoin: Slips to US$77845
  • 10-year yields: Drifts to 4.98%
  • AUD: drifts to 71.26c.

MARKET MOVERS

  • ELV +10.6% lithium play.
  • RYM +6.0% appoints new director.
  • SUN +4.5% reaffirms guidance.
  • CAT +5.3% nine lives.
  • NXL +15.0% wins court case.
  • SLS +12.0% gold winner.
  • IGO – 17.9% quarterly disappoints.
  • 4DX -9.7% hit hard again
  • QOR -18.8% placement increase, value dropped.
  • IVZ -15.5% profit taking. Volatile.
  • PEN -8.5% US Uranium play.
  • DTR -9.1% falling again.
  • ARU -5.6% profit taking.
  • EVT -7.3% FY26 update.
  • Yesterday’s Hero: AI1 +48.2% – Great results for followers of SSOTD
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: PAT +44.1% Massive exploration target at Tassa.

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • EU and US set to sign a MOU on critical minerals today.
  • U.S. soldier arrested for $400K winning Polymarket bets on Maduro capture, DOJ says.
  • China’s DeepSeek releases preview of long-awaited V4 model as AI race intensifies.
  • Japan core inflation accelerates after five months as Iran war stokes energy worries. Headline inflation came in at 1.5%, compared with 1.3% in February, staying below the central bank’s 2% target for a second straight month.
  • Polish PM questions whether US is ‘loyal’ to Europe’s defence.
  • China hackers steal western secrets by targeting consumer gadgets.
  • Chinese exporters are lifting prices on consumer goods due to rising oil-linked input costs driven by the Iran war.
  • EU Leaders meeting in Cyprus. Nice place.
  • US Tourist bookings down 11% to Europe as they don’t feel welcome!

And finally

“The Young and The Restless” has been on for 51 years…they should be “The Old and the Exhausted” by now.

Clarence

XXXX

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