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ASX 200 had another good day up 41 points to 8857 (0.5%). Banks picked back up and BHP heading back towards $50 the drivers. It looks like we are starting to see some rotation back to banks from resources as gold and silver fell in Asian trade, as the day wore on. CBA up 0.4% and the Big Bank Basket up to $271.67 (). Other financials becalmed and still pressured in places. Healthcare stocks showing some strength, CSL up 1.0% and RMD rallying 2.4%. WES did well, up 0.9% and retail steadied. Tech stocks still look horrible, XRO down another 4.1% with WTC falling 1.0% and the All-Tech Index off 1.3%.

Resources started firm with BHP up 2.6% and S32 flying 4.6% higher but some profit taking creeping in, LYC turned down, gold miners saw profit taking, EVN down 1.4% and NEM off 1.7%. Oil and gas held but only just and uranium miners steady. Lithium stocks saw selling with VUL down, PLS off 0.8% and ELV off 4.0%.

In corporate news, 4DX returned to trade after its $150m capital raise and rallied 5.6%!

Nothing significant on the local economic front, Oil dropping 3% plus in Asian trade on Iranian tensions falling. Gold and silver ease in trade on no tariffs for critical metal news. For now.

Asian markets ease back. Dow and Nasdaq futures slightly lower. 10-year yields steady at 4.69%.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: SRL, CRN, MEI, WIA, GNP, 4DX, NMG
  • Losers: ASL, CHN, QOR, ARU, CU6, BRE, ZIP
  • Positive Sectors:  Banks. Healthcare. Iron ore.
  • Negative Sectors: Gold. Financials. Lithium. Tech. REITs.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8881 Lo 8835
  • Big Bank Basket: Up to $271.67(0.9%)
  • All-Tech Index: down 1.3%
  • Gold: Steady at $6883
  • Bitcoin: Slips to US$96192
  • AUD: Lower at 66.74c.
  • Asian markets:  Japan down 0.9%, China down 0.2%, and HK off 0.6%.
  • 10-year yields steady at 4.69%
  • Dow Futures are slightly lower.

MARKET MOVERS

  • SRL +11.0% Volatility continues.
  • MEI +7.3% rare earth focus.
  • CRN +7.3% broker upgrade.
  • 4DX +5.6% placement at 380c shrugged off.
  • SLX +1.8% finding friends again.
  • MLX +2.0% Tin exposure.
  • NMG +4.8% positive day.
  • EUR +23.9% CRML exposure to ‘Trumpland’.
  • VTM +8.3% quarterly activities.
  • TWE -4.9% Citi turns bearish.
  • QOR -7.0% follows 360 lower.
  • ZIP -6.1% heading to 300c.
  • USL-5.7% silver falls back.
  • ARU -6.7% falling back again.
  • XRO -4.1% soon to exhibit at Crufts.
  • MKR -12.1% presentation.
  • MTH -7.1% maiden drill program.
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: Nothing on any volume.  

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • Australians ramped up spending over the festive season, with food and beverage purchases jumping 1% in December – the biggest lift since April – and hospitality spending rising 0.7%, according to CommBank Household Spending Insights.
  • The HSI Index has recorded 15 consecutive months of gains, with annual growth at 6.3 per cent, indicating household consumption is running slightly ahead of expectations.
  • Woodside will sell cargoes of LNG to major Japanese importer JERA to tide it over the peak-demand winter period under a deal announced on Thursday.
  • Rio Tinto and BHP have agreed to work together to extract up to 200 million tonnes of iron ore at their neighbouring Yandicoogina and Yandi iron ore operations in the Pilbara.
  • Silver tumbles after Trump holds off on Critical Mineral tariffs. President Trump said he would negotiate bilateral agreements to ensure adequate supplies of critical minerals. He floated price floors on imports — not just percentage-based tariffs.
  • The US Freezes new immigrant visas for 75 countries.
  • Toyota Industries shares hit record high after Toyota Motor raises buyout offer to over $35bn
  • US, Denmark and Greenland to form Arctic working group after tense talks
  • Musk bows to pressure over Grok creating sexualised AI images.
  • India tells delivery companies to stop promising 10-minute service.

And finally…..

Clarence

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