The ASX 200 exploded 118 points higher to 8757 (1.4%) as banks and resources caught a wave of buying. BHP production numbers, coupled with iron ore gains in Asia, helped the Big Australian up 3.0%. RIO up 1.8% with FMG lagging only up 0.5%. Lithium and graphite stocks flew, LTR up 10.1% and PLS rallying another 8.6%, with MIN up 4.8% and ILU rising 5.0%. Graphite stocks were in demand, SYR up 25.9%, and TLG up 10.0%. Gold miners found some love late in the day, NST up% % with EVN rising % but uranium stocks dipping slightly. Industrials firmed across the board, WES up 1.4% with TCL up 0.9% and SGH rising 3.0%. Healthcare is too in demand, CSL rallying 3.6% on a broker report, and MSB is living up to its name on revenue, up 34.6%. Tech stocks are better, WTC up 1.2%, and XRO rising 1.0%. Banks, as usual, didn’t want to miss out. CBA up 0.9% with WBC rising 1.8% and MQG up 1.3%. The Big Bank Basket up to $286.78 (+1.1%). Financials are also in demand, IFL is better by 5.8% on reports that a deal is close. Insurers rose, REITS better, GMG up 1.5%, and SGP up 0.9%.

In corporate news, ALX fell 0.4% on US supreme court news, FBU rose 3.0% on a business update. Nothing on the economic front local.

Asian markets mixed, Japan down 0.2% ahead of weekend election, HK up 0.8% and China up 0.4%. 10-year yields steady at 4.33%

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Wall Street recorded a positive session against a backdrop of positive economic surprises. Retail sales rising more than expected and jobless claims falling, while major AI company Taiwan Semiconductors beat earnings expectations. S&P 500 up 0.54%, hitting new highs. Nasdaq up 0.75%. Dow started volatile, seesawing up and down, but found consistent strength from about 1pm onwards. Ended near high, up 230 points. Strong sector breadth. REITS flat and Healthcare dropped after being top performer yesterday, otherwise all sectors up. Financials the best performer, boosted by strong earnings this week. Industrials and Cyclicals followed, both economically sensitive, earnings and retail sales both pointing to the resilience and strength of the US consumer.

ASX to rise. SPI futures up 32 points (+0.37%). BHP Production report - Graphite to shine.

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The ASX 200 marched back 77 points to 8639 (0.9%), new highs as jobs numbers opened the doors to an August rate cut. Banks led the charge, nothing new there, with CBA up % and the Big Bank Basket up to $283.65 (+1.5%). MQG rallied 0.9% with other financials doing well, GQG bouncing back 1.8% with IFL up 2.3% and XYZ gaining 5.1%. REITs firmed too on lower rates, GMG up 0.8% and SCG up 1.9%. Healthcare better too, COH up 2.3% and RHC rising 1.7%. Industrials firmed, CPU up 3.0% with ALL rallying 0.6% and the tech stocks better, XRO up 1.7% and WTC rising 0.4%. Retailers better too, HVN up 2.4% and LOV up 1.7%.

In resources, FMG rose 0.3% with RIO up 0.5% as iron ore hit a two-month high. A little bounce in lithium, PLS up 1.9% and LTR rising 1.8% after early losses. Gold miners weakened despite a bullion rise. NEM up 1.6% and NST off 0.5%. Rare earths took a breather. Uranium stocks flat, as was oil and gas.

In corporate news, CAR had a trading update, and the CEO resigned, falling 2.9%. PBH saw another bid from BBT. Some quarterlies in GMD and STO.

In economic news, Jobs numbers worse that forecasts with only 2k new jobs instead of 20k and unemployment rose to 4.3%.

Asian markets firmed as 10-year yields dipped to 4.35%. Asian markets mixed. Japan up 0.2%, HK up 0.2%, China up 0.4%.

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Wall Street recorded a modestly positive session despite major indices such as the S&P500 and the Nasdaq falling over 1% after Bloomberg reported that Trump would fire Fed chair Jerome Powell – Trump quickly denied the rumours, settling markets. S&P 500 up 0.32%, Nasdaq up 0.25%. Dow started flat, sharply dived on the Powell rumours, and recovered after Trump denied them, steadily rising from there. Closed near high, up 231 points. Strong sector breadth. Cyclicals flat and Energy followed oil down, otherwise all sectors up. Healthcare the best performer. Boosted by Johnson & Johnson, which rose 6.2% after its strong earnings guidance which halved expectations for tariff-related costs. REITS and Financials next best performers, yields fell, and multiple earnings beating expectations, although the individual companies had mixed responses – Goldman Sachs (+0.9%), Bank of America (-0.3%), Morgan Stanley (-1.3%).

Resources down, weaker dollar couldn’t boost them. Oil down again, US inventory build increasing supply without rise in demand. Copper modestly down 0.2%, nickel and lead down over 1%.

ASX to rise. SPI futures up 54 points (+0.63%).

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The ASX 200 fell 69 points to 8562 after a record yesterday. Banks were weak on proposed RBA charges changes, CBA off % with the Big Bank Basket down to $279.26 (-1.5%) NAB under extra pressure on CEO issues, down 3.4%. Financials generally eased back, MQG off 0.8% and insurers down, QBE off 1.0%. REITs too under pressure with GMG down 0.2% and SCG falling 0.5%. Healthcare mixed, CSL fell 1.3% on US tariff issues on pharmas, PME up 1.7% and FPH slightly firmer. Industrials mostly lower, TCL off 0.7%, ALL down 1.7% and WOW and COL easing back as did TLS. Utilities pulled back as ORG fell 1.1% and AGL down 0.8%. Tech gained, WTC up 0.6%.

In resources, it was all about rare and critical metals. News of Apple’s investment rocked the sector to the core, with good gains across the board. ILU rose 4.3% with LYC flat, even ARU rose 4.9% with MEI up 14.3%. Gold miners fell on NEM news, quarterlies doing nothing to help on profit taking after rises yesterday. NST falling 2.2% EVN down 2.3% on quarterly and WAF down 3.4%. Lithium stocks held up relatively well. BHP down 0.7% despite iron ore hitting $100 in Singapore. Uranium stocks up again, PDN up 3.3% and BOE up 3.3%. Oil and gas flat.

In corporate news, LLC fell 1.7% on a luxury development news. RIO up 0.2% on quarterly and CEO change.

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Wall Street recorded a mixed session as most sectors fell although news of Nvidia’s planned resumption of sales of its H20 AI chip to China boosted the stock, helping to lift the Nasdaq. In broader economic news, tariff uncertainty continued to weigh on stocks and the latest US CPI reading showed tariff-induced price increases starting to appear, rising 0.3% in June, up from 0.1% in May, as expected. July and August will show further tariff-related figures begin to appear in hard economic data as many businesses were previously selling pre-tariff bought stock. S&P 500 down 0.4%, Nasdaq up 0.18%. Dow steadily fell from the open, ended near the low. Down 436 points. Narrow sector performance with only Tech recording gains. Nvidia news boosted stock 4.0% and helped other Tech stocks with Broadcom rising 1.9% and Microsoft gaining 0.6%. Inflation data ticked up which hurt rate-sensitive sectors. Economically sensitive sectors and indices also fell as tariff uncertainty continues, Materials down over 2% and the Russell 2000 fell 2.0% too.

Resources mixed, stronger dollar after the CPI reading a drag. Oil dropped as Trump ‘s 50 day deadline to Russia to agree a peace deal with Ukraine or face new sanctions eased any immediate supply concerns. Copper made modest gains, nickel rose 1% while zinc fell by 1%.

ASX to rise. SPI futures down 68 points (-0.79%).

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The ASX 200 drove 60 points higher at a new record of 8630 (+0.7%). Banks rallied with the Big Bank Basket up to $283.45 (+0.5%). Other financials also in demand, MQG up 1.4% and ASX up 0.9% with insurers rising, QBE up 1.2% and MPL rallying 1.0%. REITs back in demand, GMG up 1.1% with SCG rising 0.5%. Healthcare too doing well, CSL leading the charge, up 3.8% with RMD up 0.7% and PME putting on 2.4%. Industrials firmed reversing yesterday’s losses, BXB up 0.9% and QAN rising 1.6%. Retail mixed, LOV up 2.0% but other slipping. Gaming stocks better, ALL up 1.2%. Tech sector a standout with WTC up 1.8% and XRO bouncing 1.1%. The All Tech Index up 1.8%.

Defence stocks continue to soar, DRO up 14.8%. In resources, a mixed picture BHP, RIO and FMG all falling around 1% on iron ore slipping. Gold miners were better with NEM up 1.1% and NST up 1.5%. Lithium stocks depressed, PLS down 4.6% and MIN falling 1.0%. Uranium stocks doing well, PDN up 7.9% on a broker upgrade. Rare earth stocks also in demand. In corporate news, HUB rose to record highs on new FUM inflows. TYR fell 2.7% on RBA moves to cancel fees for consumers.

In economic news, Chinese GDP rose to 5.2% higher than expected and local consumer confidence rose. US CPI data tonight. Asian markets mixed with Japan up 0.3%, HK up 0.5% and China down 0.2%. 10-year yields at 4.38%.

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Wall Street recorded a modestly positive session against a backdrop of continued tariff uncertainty and threats and renewed Trump pressure on Powell to cut rates and/or step down. S&P 500 up 0.14%, Nasdaq up 0.27%. Dow steadily rose from the open, in a choppy morning session but found consistency toward the end of the day. Finished near the high, up 88 points. Financials best performing sector, Q2 earnings seasons kicks off tomorrow Australian time, expected to be positive. REITS, a correlated sector and once part of Financials in GICS classification, was the second best performer, followed then by Industrials and Utilities. Energy the worst, followed oil down lower.

Resources down. Oil dropped as Trump gave Russia 50 days to agree a peace deal or face new sanctions. Stronger dollar did not help resources. Copper, nickel and tin all fell.

ASX to rise. SPI futures up 51 points (+0.6%). Bitcoin hit new highs at over $120k, up 2.2%.

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