The ASX 200 rose 59 points today to close at 8823 (0.7%), with the banks solid. CBA rose 1.0% and NAB gained 1.0%, with the Big Bank Basket up to $271.94 (0.8%). Other financials also had a good session, with NWL rising 3.1% and ZIP enjoying a strong day, up 8.7%, along with XYZ, up 4.9%. Industrials were also firm, with the retail sector performing well. JBH rose 2.2% and ALL also pushed higher. Plenty of Ex Dividends today in REITs and utilities.Technology finally appears to be finding its feet, with WTC up 7.2%, XRO gaining 4.5%, and the old-school platforms REA, CAR, and SEK all rising around 4% or more. Utilities were weaker, with ORG down 1.0%, while APA traded ex-dividend and also drifted lower. Healthcare stocks were better across the board, with CSL up 0.5%, RMD gaining 2.0% and TLX rising 5.5%.

Resources painted a mixed picture, with BHP up 1.4%, RIO up 0.3%, and FMG the best of the iron ore majors, up 2.4%. Gold miners were mixed as bullion drifted lower, with NST down 2.3% while GMD gained 1.9%. Lithium stocks were once again under early pressure but recovered to see PLS finish up 0.8%. In the oil and gas sector, WDS edged slightly higher, while some of the uranium stocks also posted modest gains.

In corporate news, NEU had a stunning day following progress on European approval for Daybue. RMS rallied 2.3% after agreeing to sell its Edna May gold mine for $300m, while KAR rose 9.1% after restoring production at the SPS-92 well and announcing a new on-market share buyback.

There was nothing of note on the economic front today.

Nikkei 225 down 0.4%, South Korea up 1.1%, HK up 2% and Shanghai up 0.4%.

US futures firm DJ up 191, Nasdaq up 215. European futures slightly higher.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Winners: NEU, CU6, 360, 4DX, KAR, ZIP, FCL
  • Losers: SRL, BRE, KCN, TCG, ALK
  • Positive Sectors: Banks. Tech. Healthcare. Financials.
  • Negative Sectors: REITs. Utilities (XD)
  • ASX 200 Hi 8822 Lo 8767
  • Big Bank Basket: Better at $271.94 (0.8%)
  • All-Tech Index: Up 3.5%
  • Gold: Higher at $5878
  • Bitcoin: Steady at US$59889
  • 10-year yields: Steady at 4.74%
  • AUD: Steady at 68.94c
  • Oil flat.

MARKET MOVERS

  • NEU +36.1% European approvals advancing.
  • CU6 +15.7% Data on SAR-bisPSMA to be presented at EANM.
  • 4DX +10.3% nice bounce.
  • KAR +9.1% production update.
  • ZIP +8.7% buy back update.
  • 360 +11.6% tech bounce.
  • QOR +9.5% tech bounce.
  • DXB +10.5% NEU effect.
  • SLS +13.4% continuation rally.
  • SRL -7.0% about time.
  • ETM -17.3% Greenland update.
  • KGL -16.0% equity raise
  • Speculative Stock of the Day: ION +16.7% Oklohoma supports Iondrives US Rare earth initiatives.

ECONOMIC AND OTHER NEWS

  • US – Iran agree to halt tit for tat attacks as talks continue.
  • Alphabet joins Dow – Verizon out.
  • Volkswagen set to cut 100,000 jobs.
  • ECB Forum starts in Portugal tomorrow. Another Jolly.
  • Samsung – SK Hynix to build two new chip fabs in US$518bn project. South Korea plans to establish 18.4 gigawatts of AI data centre by 2035.
  • AI fuels record $200bn M&A boom in US power sector.
  • China widens Japan export curbs, targeting drone makers, nuclear firms and defence institutes.
  • Freight shipping costs surge as companies race to beat new Trump tariffs.
  • Andy ‘Cap’ Burnham sets out ‘10-year mission’ to raise living standards.

And finally…..

I’ve recently switched from eating venison to eating pheasant.

Absolute game changer.

My half brother and I aren’t allowed to play with chainsaws anymore.

Clarence

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