End of Day – Thursday 25th August

Marcus Today Market Updates

• ASX 200 up another 50 points to 7048 (0.7%) as banks and resources rally pre-Jackson Hole. Resources continue to find friends on Chinese stimulus moves. Iron ore stocks wilted from highs with BHP up 0.7%, FMG up 0.1% and RIO lagging slightly although still up 0.2%. Base metals also doing well despite nickel falling overnight, S32 good results up 1.0% and IGO up 1.8%. Lithium stocks took a slight breather, PLS down 1.7% as uranium took centre stage on Japanese moves to embrace more nuclear power. PDN rose 11.6%, BOE up 5.2% and BMN up 15.4%. Oil and gas stocks continue to find buyers as STO rose 1.3% and WDS up 2.0%. WHC results today saw early losses as buyers stepped back in and erased the fall closing only down 1.4%. Even gold miners put in a better day, NCM up 3.0% and DEG up 5.3%. Banks were better as bond yields rose, CBA up 0.6% and WBC the stars, the Big Bank Basket rose 0.7% to $172.57. IFL pushed 11.4% ahead as MLC integration looks to be working out. MQG saw a rebound too up % with insurers a little left out. Healthcare better as CSL bouncing back 0.4%. SHL up 2.2% saw upgrades from brokers, RHC up 0.8% as BlackRock becomes a substantial shareholder at 5.1%. Industrials were firm with the exception of the staples which again came under pressure as WOW fell 3.2% on results. Plenty of ex dividends today as well. Tech was firm but unremarkable with the All- Tech Index up 0.5%.
• In corporate news, Super Thursday today, QAN announced a $400m buyback and Joyce gave $50 vouchers to say sorry, up 7%. NEC streaming 9.0% higher on better numbers, IEL doing well on its pivot up 7.5% and KAR better on a full year of Bauna, up 8.4%. Nothing much on the economic front. In Asia, markets pushing higher although HK suffering from storm disruptions Japan up 0.7% China up 0.4% and HK up 1.7%. 10-year yields higher again at 3.67%.

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