Equities

ASX keeps delivering, Commonwealth Bank’s (ASX:CBA) best week since 2011, US markets flat It was a strong week for the Australian market, the ASX200 (ASX:XJO) heading 2.1% higher despite an ASX shutdown on Monday and a weak close on Friday.  The strength was clearly driven by the financial sector with CBA enjoying its best week…

Seek (ASX:SEK), BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL) upgrade guidance, unemployment surprises, US markets offer positive lead The Australian market (ASX:XJO) eked out a fourth straight gain finishing 0.2% higher with the financial and IT sectors the biggest contributors; up 1.2% each.  For the financials Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX:WBC) led the way adding 2.3% after the release of better than…

The Dr Cathie Wood-led ARK Investment Management is facing a different kind of pressure as 2020 draws to a close. According to Bloomberg, ARK’s ETF distributor, Resolute Investment Managers, is seeking to exercise an option acquired in 2016 to buy a controlling stake in the business. The ARK Invest strategy has been a clear winner…

Stock markets have always been a win-lose situation, but the odds are skewing even further towards a handful of successful companies, according to a new analysis by Australian-based global manager Hyperion Asset Management. In bad news for value and passive investment styles, the study argues that, historically, only a small proportion of listed companies have…

ASX delivers third straight increase but weak open ahead, Crown (ASX:CWN) shutdown, anaemic wage growth The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) experienced another positive, albeit somewhat mixed, day with the banking sector (+1.7%) forcing the market higher by 0.5%.  The travel sector was the key detractor as an outbreak in South Australia combined with profit taking hitting confidence. …

ASX up and running, to open weaker, Charter Hall (ASX:CHC) and Centuria (ASX:CIP) continue to acquire The ASX (ASX:ASX) managed to open on time Tuesday after significant issues to begin the week, though management flagged some ‘settlement’ issues had also arisen, sending the share price 1.5% lower.  In terms of the ASX200 (ASX:XJO) it was…

Sharemarket to open strongly, Moderna (NYSE:MRNA) vaccine 94% effective, ASX (ASX:ASX) system failure, US markets hit record The S&P/ASX200 (ASX:XJO) managed just 25 minutes of trade this morning before its new settlement system failed, closing down the market for the day.  Before the shutdown it was a positive start, the market finished 1.2% higher on the…

ASX stocks down 0.2%, ‘Go long’ says star investor Bill Ackman, Ramsay Healthcare (ASX:RHC) reports, positive open ahead The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) fell for the second straight day finishing down 0.2% but managed to add 3.2% for the week.  The reasons were clear, positive news on a COVID-19 vaccine coming from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) sent beaten down…

ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) falls 0.5%, Telstra (ASX:TLS) outperforms, US market falls ASX to open lower It was a mixed day for the ASX200 (ASX:XJO) taking a breather after what has been a hectic few days.  Most sectors were down, with telecommunications and consumer discretionary the standouts, adding 1.9% and 1.0% on company specific news.  Wesfarmers…

Rotation rally continues, ASX 1.7% higher, Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) reports, US markets mixed, ASX to open positive The rotation rally continued on Wednesday as investors adjusted portfolios to what appears to be a sooner than expected return to normal. Every sector finished higher, with COVID beneficiaries including Consumer Discretionary (+0.7%) and healthcare (0.2%) among the ‘weakest’….

ASX rallies on vaccine news, cyclical rotation in full flight, Westfield (ASX:URW) jumps 43.5% The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) finished just 0.7% above open despite trading as much as 2.5% higher during the day on news of Pfizer’s (NYSE:PFE) successful vaccine trials.  For those interested, reports suggest that the treatment has 90% efficacy in protecting from…

Optimism abound, ASX up 4.4% for the week, Macquarie (ASX:MQG) profit falls 32% The week finished where it began, the ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) adding 0.8% taking the gain to 4.4% with every sector finishing the week higher.  The key driver was real estate (+8.3%) and consumer discretionary (+6.8%) businesses the key drivers as a combination of loosening border restrictions…