The ASX 200 fell 50 pts to 8793 (0.6%) again today, with most sectors heading lower. Banks were weak again as the Big Bank Basket fell to $288.80 (-0.8%). WBC dropped 0.7% and NAB off 0.2%. Financials generally were weak across the spectrum, insurers fell, QBE down 0.8%, MQG falling 0.6% off its recent highs. ZIP managed to hold fast, GQG fell 3.0% as tech continues higher. REITS slid, GMG down 1.1% and CHC off 2.5%. Retail fell too, JBH off 1.2% and KGN falling 2.2%. WES continued lower again. In the healthcare space, CSL steadied but COH ditched again, off 4.6% with RMD finding some buyers. PME also good, up 0.8%. Tech stocks eased again, WTC down 3.1% and REA off 1.4% with the All-Tech Index down 0.3%.
Resources tried to hold the line, oil and gas stocks were better, WDS up 3.2% and STO rising 3.7%. Uranium stocks doing ok, BMN screaming ahead, up 11.5% and NXG also doing well. Coal stocks flat.
In corporate news, TPW founder stepped back, it fell 8.2% LNW hit with a fresh lawsuit. The mistitled ‘Future Fund’ announced a new CIO. Plenty of quarterlies dropping, SFR production declined with the stock down 3.6% and MGR reported weakening residential demand.
Nothing on the economic front locally. 10-year yields back up to 5.0%
Asian markets flopped lower, Japan down 0.9%, China off 0.8% and HK down 1.1%. Oil up 1.3% in Asian trade
US Futures ease, Nasdaq down 85 Dow down 285 Europe is opening down.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Winners: REG, BMN, KAR, ARU, SLX, BPT, NXG, EQR
- Losers: BC8, TCG, TPW, CXO, STK, LYC, PRN, VGN
- Positive Sectors: Oil and gas. Uranium.
- Negative Sectors: Banks. Tech. Retail. Insurers. Lithium.
- ASX 200 Hi 8825 Lo 8749
- Big Bank Basket: Falls to $288.80 (-0.8%)
- All-Tech Index: Eases 0.3%.
- Gold: Eases to $6582
- Bitcoin: Slips to US$77943
- 10-year yields: Jumps to 5.0%
- AUD: drifts to 71.53c.
MARKET MOVERS
- REG +16.4% broker upgrades.
- BMN +11.5% uranium push.
- KAR +7.8% oil price rise.
- ARU +7.6% rare earths back.
- EQR +5.6% Mt Carbine drilling supports reserve growth.
- SLX +6.0% DYL +5.3% uranium.
- EUR +16.3% potential merger with Critical Minerals
- NMG +11.1% good drill results.
- 6KA +10.0% low volume move. Q1 report.
- IVZ +34.2% solid bounce after cap raise.
- DRE +5.3% Star of Mangaroon key approvals.
- TPW -8.2% founder steps back.
- LYC -6.7% profit taking on broker downgrades.
- COH -4.6% no recovery.
- LIN -5.7% profit taking.
- BC8 -9.9% loses a life.
- RML -10.0% $20m placement.
- Yesterday’s Hero: SLM – Unchanged
- Speculative Stock of the Day: AI1 +80% secures $14m placement led by Regal and Meitav.
ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS
- Iran says it has seized two ships in Strait of Hormuz after U.S. extends ceasefire.
- US Navy secretary fired amid Iran blockade.
- Iran war drives Panama Canal lane prices to record high.
- SK Hynix posts record first-quarter profit, in line with estimates as memory prices climb. AI demand and HBM leadership drove pricing and profitability. Chip shortages may persist to 2030 due to slow capacity expansion.
- Trump envoy seeks to replace Iran with Italy in football World Cup.
- An AI robot has beaten the best at table tennis. It will be coming for Pickleball next!
- Shakespeare’s Birthday.
And finally…..
I replaced my rooster with a duck…
Now I wake up at the quack of dawn

Clarence
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