ASX 200 rose 7 points to close near to a record of 8603.  Once again, we saw the sell-off in CBA down 0.9% with ANZ the main beneficiary up 0.8%. The Big Bank Basket fell to $281.10 (-0.3%). Financial services back in favour, NWL up 0.6% and PNI flying up 3.4%. HUB also doing well, insurers bouncing back slightly, REITs better with GMG up 0.9% and SCG up 1.1%. Healthcare also better, CSL up 0.7% and RMD up 1.4% with tech better, WTC up 1.1% and the All–Tech Index up 0.3%. Retail rose, AX1 up 2.8% and PMV rising 1.4%. Travel stocks better too. Resources were back on the nose. One day wonder? BHP down 1.4% with RIO off 1.3% and lithium stocks drooping, PLS off 0.7%. Gold miners were mixed, NEM up 0.4% and GMD down 1.2%. Oil and gas flat with profit taking in coal miners and uranium stalling. In corporate news, SLH up 23.3% as ACCC gives it the green light. MND up 0.7% on contract news, and RUL up 14.0%, doing well on an update. Nothing on the economic front.

US Markets closed tonight. Futures off slightly. Asian markets mixed. HK down 0.5%, China up 0.5%. Japan doing ‘Nanimonai’. European markets opening lower.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: RUL, BOT, EBR, CU6, CSL, AMP, CTD
  • Losers: CHN, GLF, DRO, AFG, EOS, IPX, GEM
  • Positive Sectors: Retail. REITs. Healthcare. Tech.
  • Negative Sectors: Banks. Iron ore.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8617 Lo 8590. Up 1% for the week.
  • Big Bank Basket: lower at $281.10 (-0.3%).
  • All-Tech Index: Up 0.3%
  • Gold: Slips to $5080
  • Bitcoin: steady at US$109,160
  • 10-year yield better at 4.19%.
  • AUD: steady at 65.76c.
  • Asian markets mixed.
  • Dow futures down 70, and Nasdaq futures down 68.
  • European markets set to open lower.

MARKET MOVERS

  • RUL +14.0% software sales update.
  • BOT +9.7% webinar next week.
  • CU6 +6.9% initial substantial holder.
  • SLH +23.3% ACCC says yes.
  • PUA +18.6% high grade results at Minta.
  • 360 +1.9% SEC Form 4.
  • RPL +2.4% rally continues.
  • CHN -6.5% platinum falls.
  • IPX -3.5% profit taking.
  • GLF -5.8% second day blues.
  • GEM -3.5% well Der!
  • DRO -4.9% profit taking.
  • BOC -11.6% reality bites.,
  • WA8 -4.4% change of director’s interest.
  • Speculative Stock of the Day:  Nothing on any volume.

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • US markets closed tonight but letters are on their way! 10-70%. Yikes.
  • One year of Keir Starmer.
  • Silk Logistics (SLH) – the ACCC also announced it would not oppose DP World Australia’s $174m takeover of the national container services provider.
  • Commonwealth Bank analyst Vivek Dhar has forecast that Chinese steel output will fall about 2 per cent this year, in line with the decline seen last year.
  • Microsoft layoffs hit 830 workers in home state of Washington.
  • Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pushed back against the idea that there has been little progress in negotiations with the US on a trade deal as a deadline looms for a 24 per cent across-the-board tariff to take force.
  • Hitachi Energy warns AI power spikes threaten to destabilise global supply.

And finally…..

Clarence

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