The ASX 200 finished flat up 9 points to 8677 as the initial rally fizzled out. More the sellers turned up in spades for the banking sector again. CBA crushed 3.1% with the Big Bank Basket down to $272.11 (-2.6%), under serious pressure again as the money flowed to resources. BHP up 2.6% and RIO charging ahead up 3.4%. Gold miners also back in demand, NST up 1.3% and NEM rising 2.8%. Lithium stocks on pause as were rare earths, LYC down 0.1% and graphite stocks taking a breather. SYR fell 9.3% and NVX off 0.8%. Oil flat and uranium falling a little. The industrials were flat, WES off 0.8% and BXB down 0.9% with SGH putting on the Ritz up 1.3%. Healthcare doing well as CSL hit a 4-month high, up 3.4% with PME up 2.1%. REITs firmed, tech better, XRO up 0.6% after SPP pricing period finishes, WTC up 1.4% and the All–Tech Index up 0.2%. In corporate news, IFL rose 12.2% as CC Capital agreed a 480c cash scheme. PPT up 0.7% on restructure plans.

In economic news, RBA minutes continued to show caution and gradual moves.  Consumer confidence fell 0.2% last week to 86.3 points, according to the ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence index, as households were less optimistic about financial conditions.

Asian markets mixed, Japan down 0.3% after holiday. HK unchanged . China up 0.3%.

10-year yield eases to 4.30%

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: PNR, IFL, QOR, IMD, WAF, SPR, RMS, SMR
  • Losers: LTR, AD8, ARU, LOV, ILU, SLX
  • Positive Sectors: Gold. Iron ore. Lithium. Healthcare. Tech.
  • Negative Sectors: Banks.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8715 Lo 8653
  • Big Bank Basket: Down to $272.11 (-2.6%)
  • All-Tech Index: Up 0.2%
  • Gold: Rocks to $5197
  • Bitcoin: Steady at US$117263
  • 10-year yield steady at 4.30%.
  • AUD: Firms to 65.13c.
  • Asian markets mixed. Japan up 0.1% after holiday. HK up 0.3%. China up 0.5%.
  • Dow futures up 3, and Nasdaq futures down 38.
  • European markets set to open 0.4% lower. GM and Powell in focus.

MARKET MOVERS

  • PNR +12.6% broker upgrade.
  • IFL +12.2% CC Capital bids 480c cash.
  • WAF +8.6% RMS +8.1% gold miners rally.
  • QOR +11.1% good quarterly.
  • GMD +5.2% going well.
  • CSL +3.4% broker upgrades. Highest price since March.
  • BET +25.0% trading update.
  • DTR +11.1% kicks.
  • BGD +9.2% reverses yesterday’s fall.
  • ARU -4.3% hits high and then falls.
  • AD8 -6.1% broker research.
  • LTR -6.3% profit taking.
  • ILU -3.4% change in substantial holding.
  • CBA -3.1% party is over?
  • ZIP -1.7% conference call details.
  • STX -15.6% strategic placement.
  • FAL -17.6% WA report – Profit taking.
  • MTM -9.2% name change and broker research.
  • LRV -7.6% profit taking.
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: VR8 +78.3% Binding offtake agreement.

And finally….

A hacker called me and said he had all my passwords.

I got a pen and paper and said, ‘Thank you for that; what are they?’

I was walking in the jungle and saw a lizard on his hind legs telling jokes. I turned to a local tribal leader and said, “That lizard is really funny!” The leader replied, “That’s not a lizard. He’s a stand-up chameleon.”

Clarence

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