market update

ASX retakes 7,000, iron ore falls, CBA hits new record, dispersion grows  The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished the week on a positive note, moving 0.5% higher and retaking the 7,000-point level. Every sector was higher barring materials, with Fortescue (ASX:FMG) and BHP Group (ASX:BHP) falling 2.8% and 1.5% respectively after the iron ore price dropped 9.5% during the day. On the positive side, the…

ASX follows Wall Street lower, defensive rotation, Graincorp beats expectations The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) has followed Wall Street lower, falling 0.9%, after higher-than-expected inflation figures spooked investors overnight. Short-term traders are betting that the Federal Reserve will be forced to increase interest rates earlier than expected, suggesting long-term growth companies will be worth less as a result. The selling pressure…

ASX hits 14-month high, ANZ dividend surprise, Nearmap upgrades revenue guidance  The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) reached a 14-month high, adding 0.4% and once again nearing a record. The primary driver was the healthcare sector, up 1.1%, with key constituent CSL (ASX:CSL) up 2.4% offering the majority of the support. Private hospital, imaging, and COVID-19 testing firm Healius (ASX:HLS) finished flat despite reporting…

Market volatility up as ASX finishes flat, Zip Co jumps 17%, Cleanaway’s new deal The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished flat for the day with gains in the IT sector, which was 2.2% higher, insufficient to offset weakness across cyclical businesses including energy, -0.7%, and utilities, -1.1%. The standout by far was Buy Now Pay Later firm Zip Co (ASX:Z1P) which…

ASX delivers strong gains, gold shining again, travel hit by vaccine issues The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished the week flat but managed to deliver a strong 2.4% from just four days of trading. The initial driver was the Reserve Bank reiterating their accommodative policy settings, sending the technology sector including Afterpay (ASX:APT) up 15.1% over the week after a difficult few months….

Second quarter off to strong start, AMP’s CEO departs, Boral announces buyback The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished the week and commenced the new quarter on a strong note, finishing 0.5% higher with both IT, up 2.3%, and materials, 1.3%, contributing. It was a day for stock specific news with the worst kept secret in finance being confirmed, AMP’s CEO Francesco…

ASX finishes higher on volatile day, US stimulus passed, Treasury Wine (ASX:TWE) now a takeover target The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) rallied strongly on the Labour Day public holiday for Victorians, opening 1.7% higher but giving up gains during the session to finish a more modest 0.4% higher. Much of the positive moves were driven by the materials sector,…

ASX200 lower on bond rates, Crown (ASX:CWN) to face commission, Costa Group (ASX:CGC) boosted by avocados  The ASX200 finished 0.2% lower on a mixed day for the market, with resources and materials leading the way adding 2.6% ahead of a bumper dividend season. Most of the weakness came from the healthcare and IT sectors as the 10-year…

ASX higher, Commonwealth Bank (ASX:CBA) dividend boost, Lend Lease (ASX:LLC) CEO leaves, Crown Ltd (ASX:CWN) has an uncertain future The ASX200 (ASX:XJO) finished 0.5% higher, with every sector but consumer discretionary adding to returns. IT was once again the standout with both Afterpay Ltd (ASX:APT) and Zip Co (ASX:Z1P) hitting all-time highs as BNPL valuations took another leap forward. Whilst reported…

Blistering start slows, ASX down 0.9%, bond rates higher, Bitcoin falls 20% After a blistering opening to the year in which the ASX200 (ASX:XJO) added 2.6%, attention once again turned to the economic outlook, sending the ASX200 down 0.9% on Monday. Every sector but energy weakened, with the IT sector the hardest hit falling 2.2%, Afterpay (ASX:APT) a key detractor down…