The ASX 200 closed up 43 points to 7460. A solid day with banks powering ahead on jobs data, the headline rate falling to 4.5% although weaker participation an issue. The Big Bank Basket rose to $184.92. MQG pushed 1.0% ahead with MFG rising 2.5% for a change. Healthcare was back in the green with CSL up 1.1% and RHC doing well. Industrials were firm with TLS holding an investor day rising 0.5%, TCL up 1.2% and REITS pushing ahead again. GMG up 1.0%. Consumer stocks were firm, WOW up 0.6% and WES pushing 0.6% better. In resources, uranium stocks once again in focus with AGE and BOE leading the charge in smaller players as big ones took a break. Lithium stocks were a little depressed today after some spectacular gains in recent days, ORE dropped 4.1% and PLS off 4.9%. Iron ore stocks mixed with BHP up 1.0% as one of the few actual uranium producers in Australia. RIO on the nose, down 0.9% and FMG down 3.2% as the sell-off in ore continues. Energy stocks got a boost from crude prices, STO up 2.2%. In corporate news, WES bid 155c in cash for API and was greeted with the keys to the boardroom and MYR reported better numbers sending the stock up 16.7%. On the economic front, unemployment dropped to 4.5% as many gave up looking for work during lockdowns. No impact on AUD or 10-year yield at 1.25%. Australian buying US subs put French and Chinese offside.

MAJOR MOVERS:

  • Winners: API, BOE, CRN, CHN, LFS, KAR, AUB, REG.
  • Losers: INR, LIC, VUL, RBL, SYR, SWM, SOL, EHL.
  • Positive sectors: Banks. Healthcare. REITS. Consumer stocks. Energy.
  • Negative sectors: Iron ore.
  • Hi 7488 Lo 7428 SPI Expiry boosts volumes.
  • Big Bank Basket: Rallies hard to $184.92.
  • All-Tech index: Down 0.1% APT down 0.1%.
  • Gold: Slips to AUD2446.
  • Bitcoin: Rises to US$47967.
  • Aussie Dollar: Becalmed at 73.21c despite jobs data. 10-YEAR YIELD: Firms to 1.25%.
  • Asian Markets: Tokyo down 0.3%, Hong Kong down 1.81%. China down 1.2%. Macau gaming continues to struggle. Developers in trouble as Evergrande issues spread.
  • US Futures: Dow futures up 4 NASDAQ down 3.

STOCKS ON THE MOVE

  • API +16.14% agreed bid from WES at 155c.
  • CHN +6.37% buyers back in.
  • CBA +1.42% acknowledges proceedings in relation to CCI products.
  • BOE +9.68% appoints contractor for Honeymoon uranium project.
  • ASB +2.67% potential winner from sub deal with US.
  • KAR +5.49% dispute settlement.
  • MFG +2.48% research focus from rivals.
  • INR -18.92% sell 50% of Rhyolite Ridge for US$490m investment to Sibanye- Stillwater.
  • VUL -8.05% cap raising weighs.
  • PLS -4.90% profit taking.
  • AX1 -3.96% profit taking.
  • WTC -1.77% peaking perhaps?
  • ORE -4.09% SYR -5.60% lithium stocks see sellers.
  • FMG -3.20% agreement with Eastern Guruma people.
  • ABR -2.27% uranium play slipping.
  • AT1 +29.82% winner from CV19 spot tests.
  • MYR +16.67% better results.
  • PDI +7.41% more promising hits in Bankan.
  • NMT +9.83% recycling battery briefing.
  • PSC -5.43% profit taking after solid day yesterday.
  • SLX -9.09% losing momentum.
  • GGG -13.79% unwinds run higher.
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: Jupiter Energy (JPR) +82.86% modest volumes after company signs a framework agreement for oil trading and gas utilisation.

IN THE NEWS

  • WES has upped its bid for API to 155c cash. The board has recommended the offer and it will be adjusted by the dividend if paid.
  • Myer (MYR) full-year profit $51.7m vs a $13.4m loss last year, beating consensus of a $48m profit. Its FY21 year was one week longer than FY20. Dividend remains suspended. Joanne Stephenson has been appointed Chairman of the board.
  • Domain Holdings (DHG) signs binding agreement to acquire Insight Data Solutions (IDS) for $60m, in cash. UBS recently upgraded to a BUY with a target price of 570c. 8% above the current share price.
  • Ioneer (INR) and Sibanye Stillwater to form JV to develop a Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada.
  • Panoramic Resources (PAN) provides FY22 exploration plans at Euroz Hartleys’ nickel day presentation.
  • Telstra Investor Day today. Sees mid-single-digit underlying EBITDA and high-teens underlying EPS compound annual growth rate to FY25
  • Select Harvests (SVH) expects theoretical crop volume in 2022 of 29,595MT. Says the 2022 crop is looking good with pollination now complete and strong seasonal conditions.
  • Jacobs Engineering Group confirms sale of its 10% stake in Worley (WOR) for ~US$369.3m.

ECONOMIC NEWS/ BOND MARKETS

  • Jobs numbers beat estimates due to participation rate falling as lockdowns bite.
  • Unemployment rate decreased to 4.5%.
  • Participation rate decreased to 65.2%.
  • Employment decreased to 13,022,600.
  • Underemployment rate increased to 9.3%

CV19 NEWS

  • Booster shots cut infection rate, trials in Israel show. CDC meeting next week for a booster conference.
  • Pfizer and Moderna said the immunity offered by their vaccines may wane over time. They have a vested interest of course in saying this.
  • The outbreak in China is growing with 48 new cases in Fujian.
  • Vaccine Tracker: 5.81bn doses in 184 countries. Enough for 37.9% to be fully vaccinated.
  • Locally, 260,451 doses and another two months to reach 75%.

ASIAN MARKETS

  • Tencent has fallen so much that it is no longer in the global top ten.
  • Macau gambling stocks continue to slide.

US AND EUROPEAN NEWS

  • European markets showing early modest gains.
  • Cathie Wood continues to sell Tesla. Now sold around US$266m worth this month.
  • SpaceX launches successfully.
  • France a little bit peeved as Australia buys Nuclear subs from America. Somewhat ironic really. The Scots don’t want the UK subs based in Scotland and France has been mooted as a possible sub base.
  • Ray Dalio warns regulators will kill Bitcoin if it becomes too successful.
  • Prenetic Biotech, which is involved in CV19 testing merges with a US SPAC in a $1.25bn deal.
  • Boris Johnson reshuffles cabinet. Dominic Raab become deputy PM.
  • UK inflation hits 3.2% on rising food and transport costs.

And finally…

Clarence

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