Wednesday 27th May – ASX 200 jumps 60 on CPI – US Futures higher – Asian chips go nuts – Oil down 1.6%

27 Wednesday May 2026

Posted by in Daily Reports

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The ASX 200 started slowly with early losses, but after a benign and better-than-expected CPI read, the bulls were back. The ASX 200 closed up 60 points at 8718 (0.7%). Banks fought back from bigger early losses, with CBA up modestly and WBC down 0.6X%. The Big Bank Basket unchanged at $275.52, whilst other financials improved, with MQG up 1.0%. IFT was having a good day on some broker upgrades, up 5.8%, and HUB was doing well too, up 2.0%. A horror run continued for ASX as it fell another 9.7% on the news yesterday of a further capex blowout and broker commentary today. The industrial space was mainly better, with WES gaining 1.4%, ALL up 3.2%, and GMG also having a good day after the results yesterday. Healthcare perked up slightly, with a good run from CSL up 2.4% and FPH also having another good day, up 4.1%.

The tech space was mixed, with TLS down 1.0%, WTC up 1.4%, and TNE up as well. The All -Tech Index rose 2% today.

In resources, it was a mixed session, with lithium stocks a little under pressure. PLS fell 1.9%, and MIN also down slightly, but BHP up 1.5% and FMG also doing well. Gold miners were mixed, with a bias to the upside, as NEM rose 1.3%, and coal stocks again were firm, with YAL up 2.1% and WHC up 2.2%. Uranium stocks were also slightly firmer, with PDN up 2.4%.

In corporate news today, WEB rose slightly following results, with guidance maintained. EDV fell 4.9% after it flagged a major restructure of its wine operations. SXL was up strongly after Gina Rinehart emerged as a major shareholder. KMD was also doing well on a strategic review, up 17.3%. NUF also had a good day, up 13.7%, as profits jumped on higher margins.

In economic news, the monthly consumer price index showed inflation slowed slightly to 4.2%, below the 4.4% forecast. The dollar slid slightly on this news and hopes that the RBA is on hold firmed.

Asian markets were once again gripped by chip fever in South Korea and Taiwan. Records and new trillion-dollar valuations.  Japan up 0.4%, HK down 1.1% and China off 0.6%. Kopsi up 3.6%. Taiwan up 2.4%.

US futures slightly better. Brent crude down 1.6%

 No news on peace deal.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: LIN, NUF, ELS, DDR, MP1, ASB, TEA
  • Losers: ASX, MLX, EDV, FCL, BC8, FCL, NEU
  • Positive Sectors: Financials. Retail. REITs. Healthcare. Coal.
  • Negative Sectors: Lithium.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8718 Lo 8626 – CPI helps bulls.
  • Big Bank Basket: Unchanged at $274.52
  • All-Tech Index: Up 2.0%
  • Gold: Slips to $6282
  • Brent Crude up 2.0%
  • Bitcoin: Slips to US$75556
  • 10-year yields: Fall to 4.85%
  • AUD: Steady at 71.59c.

MARKET MOVERS

  • NUF +13.7% results beat expectations.
  • DDR +8.6% AGM presentation.
  • WBT +7.0% chip euphoria.
  • ELS +8.9% AI drone play.
  • ASX -9.7% brokers downgrade.
  • EDV -4.9% strategy update.
  • NEU -4.1% AGM presentation.
  • BC8 -4.4% profit taking.
  • PNV -2.4% reverses back down.
  • EIQ -3.7% profit taking.
  • Yesterday’s Hero: ADO -14.6% chopped down to earth.
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: HTG +90% placement and presentation.

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 4.2%, down from 4.6% in the 12 months to March 2026. The largest contributors to annual inflation were Housing (+6.3%), Transport (+6.6%) and Food and non-alcoholic beverages (+2.8%).
  • The three-year bond yield, which reflects interest rate expectations, dropped 4 basis points to 4.56% as traders dialled back the chance of a rate increase by the RBA. Money markets imply an 89% chance of a fourth interest rate rise by December. They were fully priced for a move before the data.
  • SK Hynix Inc. joined Micron Technology Inc. in surpassing the $1 trillion market capitalization milestone. Fueled by gains in SK Hynix and Samsung, Korea’s Kospi index jumped as much as 5% after the open, prompting the Korea Exchange to briefly halt program buying.
  • ECB ‘will do what is necessary’ to tame inflation, said the Bank of France governor.
  • Chinese Industrial profits surged 24.7% in April from a year ago, accelerating from a 15.8% jump in the previous month.
  • Trump’s Board of Peace fund is empty. No money flowing into Gaza reconstruction.
  • Samsung workers set for $400,000 bonus after deal to share AI profits.
  • Undeterred by war, thousands of Iranians reach Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
  • Bezos’s Blue Origin secures $468mn in NASA Moon Base contracts.

And finally…..

When a kid burned down his house, his pyrotech father watched, put an arm around his wife with pride said, “That’s arson.”

Clarence

XXXX

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