Episode Details

The ASX 200 rose just 2 points to 8725 after an early swoon. NAB jumped 3.8% on a broker upgrade, WBC followed, up 2.2%, and the Big Bank Basket rallied to close at $269.80 (+1.1%)

Financials were mixed, although insurers fared better, with QBE up 0.5% and SUN rising 0.8%. REITs continued to flounder, with GMG down 0.3% and SCG off 0.8%. Industrials also showed weakness, with WES falling 4.0% as brokers trimmed forecasts. SGH slipped 5.0%, while retailers came under pressure, with JBH down 1.7%, LOV falling 2.1% and HVN off 3.3%.

Tech stocks were mixed again. WTC fell 1.6%, while XRO was slightly firmer following its AI deal with Microsoft. NXT dropped 5.9% and MP1 fell hard as cloud providers had a rethink. The All-Tech Index slipped 0.5%.

Resources enjoyed a solid bounce in the gold sector as Kevin Warsh played a straight bat in Portugal. NST rose 5.5% and NEM gained 2.6%. Lithium stocks remained under pressure, with PLS up 0.4% and LTR slipping 3.2%. There was little to write home about in the rare earths sector. Oil and gas stocks eased as crude fell again, with WDS down 1.3% and STO off 1.4%. Uranium stocks were modestly higher.

In corporate news, EOS gained 2.5% after securing another order from the Middle East. PPT rose 3.5% following a non-binding indicative offer from EQT, while IPX fell 3.0% after completing an acquisition. BHP announced it will spend $2.2 billion to reopen its mothballed Cerro Colorado copper mine.

On the economic front, Balance of Payments numbers were released today.

Asian markets were weaker, with the Nikkei 225 down 1.4%, the Kospi off 1.2%, Hong Kong up 0.9% and Shanghai down 1.9%. US futures were drifting higher, with the Dow up 27 points and the Nasdaq ahead by 53 points. Fair value is slightly negative, pointing to a modest start tonight. US markets are closed on Friday for the Independence Day holiday.

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