The ASX 200 played out a nil-all draw today, closing up just 16 points at 8,764 in a session of highs and lows. Some EOFY shenanigans were evident in a handful of stocks. The banks held firm, recovering some of yesterday’s losses, with ANZ up 0.5% and the Big Bank Basket steady at $269.71 Insurers eased as bond yields steadied, with QBE down 0.2% and SUN off 0.7%. Other financials also slipped, with NWL down 2.8% and HUB falling 4.8%. Industrials were patchy. WES continued higher and JBH found ongoing support. Healthcare stocks took a breather after recent gains, with CSL slipping 2.4% and RMD down 0.9%. Technology was mixed after early weakness, with XRO edging higher and WTC finding some friends, up 0.5%, almost the reverse of the last few trading sessions.

Resources also attracted some buying, although it was hardly convincing. BHP rose 0.8% and RIO outperformed, up 2.2%. Gold miners returned to the green, but only just. Lithium stocks remained under heavy pressure after CATL talked up sodium-ion batteries. PLS fell 6.3% and LTR dropped 5.7%. Oil and gas stocks edged higher, with WDS up 0.8% and STO rallying 1.4%.

In corporate news, DGT rose 5.8% after CEO Juniper departed. 4DX fell 9.0% despite receiving TGA approval, while NWH unchanged after announcing new contract wins. There was nothing of note on the economic front today.

Nikkei 225 down 4.5%, South Korea down 5.8%, HK down 1.6% and Shanghai down 2.4%. US futures slide again, DJ down 112, Nasdaq down 397 .

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: EQR, TVN, DGT, LYL, MMI, IMR, KCN
  • Losers: CU6, MSB, 4DX, ELV, CXO, PLS, LTR
  • Positive Sectors: Gold miners. Iron ore. Oil and gas. Supermarkets.
  • Negative Sectors: Lithium. Healthcare. Poker machine makers.
  • ASX 200 Hi 8774 Lo 8708
  • Big Bank Basket: Unchanged at $269.71
  • All-Tech Index: Down 1.5%
  • Gold: Higher at $5819
  • Bitcoin: Falls to US$59684
  • 10-year yields: Falls to 4.72%
  • AUD: Falls to 68.90c
  • Oil down 1.8%

MARKET MOVERS

  • KCN +% decent bounce.
  • EQR +5.8% Friday bounce.
  • DGT +5.8% CEO update.
  • SLS +29.1% Exceptional first core results.
  • MYX +7.5% new NED.
  • INR +7.1% US army site.
  • CU6 -11.0% 100-employee milestone.
  • MSB -9.4% EOFY sell down.
  • ELV -8.9% change in substantial holding.
  • 4DX -9.0% TGA approvals.
  • CXO -7.3% LTR -5.7% lithium depressed.
  • DRO -5.4% LW article.
  • CAY -13.6% Progress update.
  • CXL -14.7% lithium weakness.
  • PE1 -8.8% AI exposure.
  • Speculative Stock of the Day:  SLS +29.1% exceptional first core results.

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • Kospi sinks 5.8%. Softbank plunges 13%.
  • Disruptions to shipping in the Strait.
  • UN nuclear watchdog says it has access to Iran’s nuclear sites after interim peace deal.
  • Trump planning his first flight on Qatar’s Air Force one next week.
  • OpenAI leaning towards a 2027 listing.
  • Trump’s son set for Kalshi windfall after prediction platform gave him stake.
  • Elon Musk’s SpaceX plans Starlink mobile push into US consumer market.
  • DeepSeek plans hiring spree in escalation of China’s AI talent war.
  • Apollo co-founder Leon Black to face US lawmakers over Epstein links.
  • Venezuela death toll rises.

And finally….

Clarence

XXXX