Pre-Market Report – Monday 12 October: US markets firm ahead of earnings this week - SPI up 37 - Gold up

ASX closed up 2 points or 0.02% on Friday. 7 of 11 sectors higher. Materials sank 3.85% as gold, copper, silver and lithium prices fell after the overnight Wall Street tech sell-off. BHP closed down 3.6%, FMG down 2.1%, PLS down 8.1%. Discretionary and financials performed best, up 2.57% and 2.21%, as investors found defensive ground and retail bargains. The Big Four closed up between 0.9% and 4.3%, with CBA best. WES up 3.8%, NCK bounced 5.2% after falling 15.3% yesterday. Gold miners strugg...

US stock indices closed lower on Thursday amid a sell-off in technology stocks. The S&P 500 fell 1.2%, and the Nasdaq lost 2.9%, while the Dow closed flat. Tech stocks were under pressure as corporate earnings failed to impress, renewing concerns over the AI trade, while the rotation away from semiconductor stocks continued. Meta sank 7% despite reporting higher earnings and revenue, as its credit risk reached a record high. Meta plans to ramp up capital spending reignited fears that tech...

The ASX 200 closed down 38 points at 8793, well off the lows, as the banks continued to offer stability, whilst mining stocks were generally easier, with comments from FMG on Chinese iron ore negotiations hurting the big boys and falling 4.5%. BHP lost 2.4%. Gold miners were also slipping after a slightly positive start, but bullion prices eased in Asia. The oil and gas sector was also easier, with WDS down 3.5% and STO down 1.3%. The banks held steady, with ANZ up 1.2% and the Big Bank Baske...

The Nasdaq Composite added 1.05% to end at 26,702.86, and the S&P 500 rose 0.58% to 7,757.17. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 360.21 points, or 0.69%, to close at 52,856.09. Shares of Elon Musk’s SpaceX surged 7% after the company said its revenue grew 161% in the third quarter. Musk also said that SpaceX and Tesla, his auto manufacturer, have formed special committees to discuss a merger. Tesla, which is due to report earnings later, saw shares rise more than 3%. US mortgage rat...

A big hit for Nextdc today, down more than 40% after a power delay at its Melbourne data centre slashed its earnings guidance. The ASX 200 still edged higher as the banks bounced. The RBA’s Hauser warned inflation is running well above forecast, and markets now see a November rate hike as more likely than not. Marcus Today – Daily Market Insights Marcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without...