Tuesday 21st April – ASX 200 drifts down 4 pts – Waiting for Peace Talks – RIO quarterly – Banks ease – US Futures up slightly

21 Tuesday Apr 2026

Posted by in Daily Reports

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The ASX 200 drifted 4 points lower to 8949 as the countdown continues on the ceasefire. Banks eased back, CBA down 0.3% and ANZ off 1.7% with MQG hitting record highs up 0.7% and other financials doing well. The Big Bank Basket fell to $298.32 (-0.3%). ASX up 1.4% and ZIP continuing to push higher up 2.8%. HUB was a casualty falling 8.3% on FUA news. REITs firmed slightly, GMG up 0.7% and VCX rising 1.2%. Tech slightly firmer, WTC up 0.2% and the All-Tech Index up 0.3%. WOW and COL rallied, retail firmed, with healthcare mixed.  In resources, BHP eased 0.3% with RIO up 0.8% after good quarterly numbers, lithium stocks eased back, PLS down 2.5% and LYC fell 2.1% after solid quarterly numbers. Gold miners were mixed, EVN down 1.6% but WGX up 1.3%. Oil and gas stocks slid, WDS down 1.8% and STO falling 1.5% with coal stocks up slightly, NHC up 2.2%. Uranium stocks were mildly positive, DYL up 2.5% and NXG rising 2.0%.

In corporate news, MIN priced a $1.8bn debt note, CGF unchanged after its guidance narrowed. MAF rose 3.7% after a 44% increase for YoY AUM growth.

Nothing substantial on the economic front.

Asian markets saw modest gains – Japan up 1.2%, HK up 0.5% and China up 0.2%. 10-year yields fall to 4.9%.

US Futures ease, Nasdaq up 98, Dow up 85. Europe is opening up around 1%.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: SYL, LIN, BRE, AYA, VUL, SX2, DRO
  • Losers: HUB, 4DX, DTR, RAC, MLX, SLK, SKS.
  • Positive Sectors: REITs. Supermarkets. Financials.
  • Negative Sectors: Banks. Oil and gas.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8976 Lo 8911
  • Big Bank Basket: Falls to $298.32 (-0.3%)
  • All-Tech Index: Up 0.3%.
  • Gold: Steady at $6679
  • Bitcoin: Better at US$75844
  • 10-year yields: Falls to 4.90%
  • AUD: drifts to 71.68c.

MARKET MOVERS

  • VUL +6.5% delayed kick after German royalty holiday.
  • BRE +8.1% rare earth stocks on the move.
  • LIN +9.2% solid move.
  • DRO +5.5% defence theme.
  • PLY +12.1% bouncing back.
  • VMM +33.3% good volume too.
  • FTI +11.4% AI data plane – Presentation.
  • ATH +10.0% initial director’s interest.
  • HUB -8.3% disappointing results.
  • 4DX -6.2% under pressure.
  • DTR -5.1% slipping again.
  • MFF -3.1% ex dividend.
  • SKS -3.9% profit taking.
  • IVZ -13.4% capital raising.
  • Yesterday’s Hero: EMD – Unchanged.
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: SLM +74.2% acquisition of advanced district scale lithium project in Minas Gerais from RIO.

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • In the year 2024-25 across all levels of Australian government, total taxation revenue was: $839.0bn – $37.4 billion (4.7%) higher than 2023-24 – 30.2% as a percentage of GDP.
  • KOSPI up more than 2% to a new record.
  • Fed chair nominee faces nomination committee today.
  • Trump on CNBC interview later.
  • European markets expected to open higher.
  • Nvidia supplier Victory Giant sees shares soar 60% in Hong Kong debut.
  • Selling Poland’s gold reserves to buy arms is a ‘mirage’, minister warns.

And finally…

Volkswagen should bring back the Beetle as an electric car. They can call it the Lightning Bug.

Clarence

XXX

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