CommSec Market Update

The ASX200 closed modestly higher on Friday, up about 0.08% and breaking a three‑week losing streak, while September remains down roughly 2%. Stronger‑than‑expected August inflation trimmed market expectations for a November RBA rate cut to about 50%. US President Trump’s 100% tariff on pharma imports dragged healthcare stocks such as CSL, Pro Medicus and Mesoblast lower, whereas miners (+0.7%) and financials (+0.5%) buoyed the index, led by BHP’s 1.3% gain. Looking ahead, investors will watch the RBA’s October decision, US inflation figures and upcoming US jobs data, plus the rollout of pharma tariffs on October 1.

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Wall Street retreated for a third straight session as stronger growth figures cast doubt on the likelihood of a November rate cut. The US economy recorded its fastest pace of growth in two years, while Treasuries gained as the data clouded the Fed’s policy outlook. In company news, CoreWeave expanded its deals with OpenAI, while Oracle extended its slide on AI concerns, marking a third day of losses. In commodities, oil pulled back from a seven-week high as investors reassessed the Fed’s rate path. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to open flat on Friday ahead of the...

The ASX200 ended Thursday more or less flat after a choppy session, with mining and energy stocks leading gains on stronger oil and copper prices. Woodside and Santos rose with crude oil at seven-week highs, while copper miners like Sandfire and BHP climbed after supply disruptions in Indonesia. Billions in dividends were paid out by BHP, Rio Tinto, Telstra and others, and Premier Investments delivered a mixed result as Peter Alexander sales grew but Smiggle weakened. Rate cut expectations remain uncertain after hotter August inflation kept investors cautious.

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Wall Street lost ground for a second straight day as investors took a breather, with chipmakers falling on a weak outlook from Micron Technology. Elsewhere, selling continued in AI names, including Nvidia and Oracle. In commodities, copper rallied to a 15-month high after Freeport declared force majeure, while oil surged 3% to a seven-week peak on a sharp draw in U.S. stockpiles. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to fall on Thursday amid renewed inflation concerns.

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The ASX200 suffered its worst day in three weeks, falling 1% as August inflation came in hotter than expected at 3% annually. Higher electricity bills drove the headline figure, though underlying inflation eased to 2.6%. Banks led declines with Westpac down 3.5% amid job cuts news, while DroneShield continued its stellar run. Energy stocks bucked the trend on stronger oil prices. Tomorrow brings massive dividend payments from BHP, Rio Tinto and Telstra.

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Wall Street hit pause after a record-breaking run, with tech stocks under pressure as Fed Chair Jerome Powell gave no hint on future rate moves. Nvidia slipped following news of OpenAI’s $100 billion deal, while U.S. Treasuries declined for a fourth straight day on cautious Fed commentary. In commodities, oil rose $1 a barrel as the restart of Kurdish exports stalled, while gold surged to a new record high on safe-haven demand. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to snap a three-day winning streak ahead of key inflation data.

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Steve welcomes listeners to a Tuesday lift, as the ASX200 gains about 0.4 %. Mining and banks lead gains, while tech lags and consumer staples lose. The market feels the drag of a 25 % drop in Myer shares after a 30 % plunge in profits, plus a 5 % dip in Regis amid aged‑care fund fears. Tomorrow’s focus: August CPI data, US manufacturing figures, and dividends from Woodside Energy and Suncorp.

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Technology stocks led Wall Street to fresh record highs on expectations of two more rate cuts from the Fed this year. Nvidia also hit a record after unveiling a $100 billion investment in OpenAI, while Teradyne surged on broker upgrades and Apple gained on a product boost. In contrast, Tylenol’s maker, Kenvue, slumped on reports linking the drug to autism. Elsewhere, European markets were mixed, with automakers under pressure following a profit downgrade at Porsche. Back home, Aussie shares are set to open higher on Tuesday, with gold miners in focus following new record highs for the metal.

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The ASX200 rose 0.4% on Monday, marking a second straight gain, though momentum faded through the afternoon. Mining stocks led the advance, with iron ore and gold miners posting strong rallies, while Reece Limited jumped on a $250m buyback and Viva Energy Group Ltd sank on leadership changes. Investors now turn to key inflation data in Australia and the US plus a heavy week of dividend payouts worth $15bn.

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Wall Street sailed to fresh record highs, lifted by the prospect of more rate cuts. Technology stocks led the charge as Oracle rose 4% while FedEx gained on stronger-than-expected earnings. In commodities, oil prices slipped on supply concerns while gold and iron ore advanced. Back home, the ASX is set to open higher, with attention turning to RBA governor Michelle Bullock as she fronts a government panel.

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The ASX200 lifted modestly on Friday but not enough to prevent a third straight weekly loss, with the index slipping about 1% across five sessions. Despite US markets hitting fresh record highs after the Fed’s first rate cut of the year, local gains faded late in the week. Healthcare and financials led Friday’s improvements while energy and materials lagged, and standout movers included Telix Pharmaceuticals on the upside and Santos on the downside after its $30 billion takeover bid collapsed. Looking ahead, investors will focus on next week’s Australian inflation update and a wave of nearly $15 billion in divide...

Wall Street indexes notched record highs, led by Intel’s surge on news of a stake in Nvidia. The Russell 2000 small-cap index also climbed to its first record since November 2021, while CrowdStrike jumped 12% on upbeat long-term guidance. US jobless claims fell by the most in four years, adding to optimism. Meanwhile, the Bank of England held rates steady. Back home, Aussie shares are set to rebound from two-week lows, while the US dollar firmed as the Fed’s rate cuts failed to meet dovish expectations.

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Australian shares extended losses on Thursday, with the ASX200 down 0.8%. Energy stocks were the hardest hit after Santos tumbled nearly 12% on news a $30 billion takeover bid collapsed. CSL slipped below $200 for the first time since 2019, while Origin Energy and CBA also weighed on the market. In contrast, Nuix surged on a major contract win and uranium miners bounced back. Meanwhile, a weaker-than-expected jobs report adds weight to the case for an RBA cut later this year.

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Wall Street ended mixed in choppy trade after the Federal Reserve cut rates and signalled a cautious path for further easing. Fed Chair Jerome Powell cited labour market weakness as a key factor in the decision. Bond yields rose following the Fed move and Powell’s comments, while oil prices eased on U.S. demand concerns. Back home, SPI futures indicate an early loss for the ASX 200, with Aussie shares expected to decline ahead of key jobs data.

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The Aussie market stumbled to its weakest performance in a fortnight, with the ASX200 closing firmly lower and now sitting about 3% shy of record highs. Losses across miners, financials and consumer stocks outweighed gains for energy shares, helped by a stronger oil price, and Whitehaven Coal, which jumped more than 5%. DroneShield also climbed after securing fresh US defence contracts, while New Hope and gold miners lagged. Attention now shifts to the Federal Reserve’s widely expected rate cut, the tone of Jerome Powell’s comments, and tomorrow’s Australian jobs data.

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Wall Street pulled back slightly, with the S&P 500 easing from record highs as traders look ahead to the Federal Reserve’s rate decision. Fresh data showed U.S. retail sales rose strongly in August, underscoring resilience in consumer spending. In company news, Microsoft unveiled a $30 billion investment in UK AI infrastructure, while Google’s Gemini app climbed to the top of Apple’s store rankings. In commodities, oil gained more than 1% following drone attacks in Ukraine, and gold surged to fresh record highs. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to open lower on Wednesday as investors await the Fed’s...

Australian shares recovered modestly on Tuesday, with the ASX200 up about 0.25% as strength in energy, uranium and gold miners outweighed declines in Qantas, CSL and Super Retail Group. Commodity prices supported the resource sector, with gold hitting fresh record highs and oil rising on supply concerns. Investors remain cautious as they look ahead to a likely US rate cut later this week, as well as local jobs data, and Reserve Bank commentary.

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Wall Street has started the week on the front foot, as Elon Musk’s $1 billion purchase of Tesla shares sent the stock sharply higher. The S&P 500 hit an intraday record as bond yields eased ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision. Globally, the U.S. and China reached a consensus on TikTok, while Beijing moved to target Nvidia under anti-monopoly laws. Meanwhile, President Trump also renewed calls to scrap quarterly earnings reports. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to rise on Tuesday, recovering from a slow start to the week.

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The ASX200 started the week slightly lower, easing less than 0.2% despite soft Chinese economic data and a mixed US lead. Lithium and uranium miners topped the winners list after last week’s heavy losses, while gold stocks retreated following a strong six-week run. AMP and WiseTech also featured among notable movers. Looking ahead, investors will focus on local jobs data, ex-dividends, and a busy week of global central bank meetings, including a widely expected US rate cut.

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Wall Street posted weekly gains, thanks to some resilience from the Nasdaq, though U.S. equities lost ground in the final hours of trade as investors looked ahead to this week’s Federal Reserve decision. U.S. interest rates retreated from five-month lows, while European markets saw mixed moves after a French credit downgrade kept rates in focus. Back home, futures point to a weaker open for the ASX 200 on Monday, with the Aussie dollar holding above 66 U.S. cents.

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Aussie stocks have posted their best lift today since last Thursday, as Steve recounts the session that saw the ASX making up for the modest moves lower of recent days.  The strength of the US market had a part to play in this following their unemployment data, locally energy stocks continued to decline, and financials saw gains.  Ex-dividend trading continued for a number of stocks, gold miners saw more significant improvements, and Virgin Australia caught attention.  Steve looks to the week ahead with jobs growth data something that investors should be watching, and around $2.5 billion in dividends set to be...

Wall Street surged to fresh record highs as investors bet a Federal Reserve rate cut is all but certain. US core CPI rose in line with expectations, keeping the Fed on track to ease policy, while a spike in jobless claims in Texas pointed to ongoing labour market weakness. In company news, Paramount and Skydance are preparing a bid for Warner Bros Discovery. Elsewhere, the European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged. In commodities, oil prices fell 2% due to concerns about oversupply, while iron ore prices declined amid elevated Chinese steel inventories. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to...

The Aussie market has slid for a third time this week.  Steve discusses this session which reversed the small gains of Wednesday and discusses the catalysts likely to spark a US rate cut.  Locally healthcare and banking seen declines, and gold miners continued to gain attention with the precious metal on a tear.  PolyNovo has bounced back from the recent declines, defence contracts saw some well-known names grow, and a lot of ex-dividend stocks saw declines.

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The S&P 500 and Nasdaq climbed to fresh record highs after U.S. wholesale prices fell. Bond yields also slipped on the softer PPI data, adding to market optimism. Elsewhere, Oracle shares surged the most since 1992 on major cloud contract wins, sparking a rally in other AI-related stocks, while Synopsys posted its steepest drop in three decades as trade tensions weighed on sales. Turning to commodities, oil rose for a third straight day, iron ore eased on profit-taking, and gold hovered near record highs. Back home, Australian shares are set to open lower on Thursday, with the Aussie dollar...

The ASX200 rose by a third of a percent, its first gain of the week, supported by banks after yesterday’s job cut announcements at ANZ and NAB. Lithium miners slumped sharply on news China’s CATL may restart production, while Iluka also tumbled on plans to halt WA operations. Nine of 11 sectors advanced, though energy stocks eased. Investors now look ahead to key US inflation data due over the next two days.

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Wall Street closed at record highs despite lingering economic concerns, as US payrolls were revised down by record levels. Additionally, Treasuries snapped their winning run as investors awaited key inflation data. In company news, Apple unveiled its iPhone 17 line-up, though shares slipped slightly, while Anglo American and Teck Resources agreed to merge in what will be the world’s second-largest mining deal. In commodities, oil rose following an Israeli attack on Qatar, iron ore rallied amid concerns over Simandou supply, and gold scaled new record highs. Back home, Aussie shares are set to open flat on Wednesday despite those st...

The Aussie market has fallen again today marking a poor start for September following the multitude of record highs in August.  Steve joins to discuss the US jobs market and interest rates, how France losing their prime minister is creating uncertainty in Europe, and the performance of the local sectors with only tech and consumer discretionary rising slightly amid a sea of red.  Gold miners continued to improve, Nine Entertainment gained attention, and Steve runs through the stocks trading ex-dividend.  He discusses business and consumer confidence results and looks to the day ahead.

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Wall Street managed to stay afloat as falling long-term interest rates offset signs of weakening consumer confidence, which weighed on labour market expectations. Technology stocks led the gains, with Broadcom rising on news of an AI partnership with OpenAI, while Robinhood surged 15% after being included in the S&P 500. In Europe, debt concerns deepened as crisis-prone France slipped further into fiscal trouble. Elsewhere, Argentine markets plunged after President Milei’s party lost ground to the Peronists, while gold prices hit new record highs amid rising political uncertainty. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to fall ahead of key confidence su...

The ASX200 slipped a quarter of a percent as energy stocks weighed, following weaker oil prices and an OPEC+ decision to lift output. Tech, healthcare and property trusts provided rare gains, while winners included DroneShield, Life360 and uranium miners. Attention now shifts to US inflation data released midweek and a likely Federal Reserve rate cut next week.

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US stocks fell as concerns over a weakening job market weighed on sentiment, with unemployment rising to its highest level in four years. Long-term interest rates tumbled as traders priced in further rate cuts, while oil prices came into focus after OPEC announced a production increase. Elsewhere, Japanese bonds drew caution following the Prime Minister’s resignation. Back home, Aussie shares are set to open lower on Monday after posting their first weekly loss in five.

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It has been a challenging and volatile week, but the market has improved for a second day following the 4-day losing streak.  Steve reflects on this week penned as ‘one of the worst months of the year for markets’ and discusses the US data that could impact their interest rate decisions tonight.  Locally only consumer staples and energy stocks declined with all others in the green, mining stocks have helped the market after recovering later in the session, and PolyNovo rose again.  Gold miners stood out with the precious metal price at record highs, a number of stocks traded ex-divi...

Promising rate-cut expectations pushed Wall Street to fresh record highs, as weaker jobs data, including softer private payrolls, fueled hopes of the Federal Reserve easing and sent US bond yields lower. In company news, Broadcom delivered an upbeat forecast on strong AI demand. In commodities, oil prices eased as OPEC considered a potential output hike, while iron ore climbed to multi-week highs on hopes of improving Chinese demand. Back home, Australian shares are expected to open higher on Friday.

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The market has rebounded today for the best day in around two weeks marking the end of a four-session losing streak.  US jobs data played a part in this as Steve discusses, and he unpacks the local improvements with almost all sectors seeing gains.  The banks saw strong improvements following their recent declines, Austal and NRW Holdings gained attention, and Domino’s saw a gain after a run of declines.  Ex-dividend trading impacted a handful of stocks including NIB and TPG, and Steve looks to the day ahead.

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Wall Street consolidated overnight, buoyed by rising hopes of interest rate cuts as signs of weakness in the job market shaped expectations. In company news, Alphabet shares surged after a court ruling on search, while Apple also gained on the back of the decision. Elsewhere, Macy’s lifted its outlook but warned of a fickle consumer. In commodities, oil eased as OPEC weighed another output hike, iron ore extended gains after Goldman Sachs lifted its price forecast, and gold hit a record high. Back home, Aussie shares are expected to rebound on Thursday after recording their steepest drop in ne...

The ASX200 tumbled 1.9% on Wednesday, marking its worst day in five months and extending a four-day losing streak. Faster-than-expected local economic growth dampened prospects of a September rate cut, while global tariff uncertainty, France’s political turmoil, and rising bond yields weighed heavily. All sectors closed in the red, with banks hit hardest, though GrainCorp, Tabcorp and PECSA found support from broker upgrades.

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Wall Street stumbled into September, with US stocks falling as a ruling on Trump-era tariffs added to uncertainty. Bond market turbulence persisted as debt sales ramped up, while US manufacturing activity contracted for a sixth straight month. In company news, Warren Buffett said he was disappointed by the Kraft Heinz split, which weighed on its stock performance. In commodities, gold surged to record highs and oil gained after the US imposed sanctions on Iran. Closer to home, Australian shares are set to fall for a fourth consecutive session, with investors awaiting key economic growth data.

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The Aussie market was under some pressure today following a subdued performance possibly led by the US market being closed for a public holiday.  This puts the ASX200 at the lowest levels in 2 weeks, Steve discusses the recent streak that could have played a part in this hesitancy, and how the swings of profit reporting season likely also had a part to play.  He unpacks the sea of red today with Reece and Platinum Asset Management gaining attention among the losers, but PolyNovo managed a win, with NRW Holdings being another standout.

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With US markets shut for the Labor Day holiday, trading across the Northern Hemisphere was subdued. Still, Eurozone stocks closed higher on a defence boost, while European bond yields climbed ahead of a French confidence vote. Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk gained on optimism over heart disease treatments, and China’s factory activity expanded at its fastest pace in five months. In commodities, oil prices firmed ahead of this week’s OPEC meeting, while gold hovered near a four-month high. Back home, Aussie shares are set to open slightly lower on Tuesday as investors brace for a data-heavy week.

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The Aussie market kicked off September on the back foot, with the ASX200 slipping to a two-week low as tech stocks dragged and major banks fell. Gold miners bucked the trend, surging on a stronger gold price, while Fortescue dropped after trading ex-dividend. Harvey Norman jumped on a profit beat and IDP Education extended its rebound, but Mesoblast and Mineral Resources weakened. With a wave of companies set to trade ex-dividend this week, plus key local economic data and US jobs numbers ahead, markets face a busy start to the new month.

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US stocks retreated as investors weighed the latest inflation figures. Data showed US spending rose at the fastest pace in four months, while core inflation posted its biggest gain since February, prompting a more cautious tone. Still, the Dow Jones and S&P 500 notched their fourth straight monthly advance, while the Nasdaq extended its winning streak to five months. Back home, the ASX is set to open lower on Monday, with energy stocks in focus as oil prices ease ahead of the OPEC meeting.

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