The ASX200 fell 1.3% last week, with market sentiment softened by Tuesday’s Budget and disappointing trading updates from ASX heavyweights CBA and CSL - as the saying goes, the trend’s your friend, with the previous market darling CSL, now down -43%, in 2026. As we all know, the budget played a dominant role last week, with the influential “Big Four Banks” retreating by an average of close to 6% on fears around Australia's pivotal housing market. It’s a good job the big miners enjoyed a great week, despite surrendering some of their gains on Friday. BHP Group (ASX: BHP) and RIO Tinto (ASX: RIO) posted fresh all-time highs, both advancing +4% by Friday's close.
The ASX200 experienced a choppy week, ultimately closing up +0.2% following Fridays triple-digit loss as tensions between the US and Iran took a turn for the worse. The local index was threatening to break out toward fresh highs on Thursday before yesterday’s -1.5% sell-off, leaving the market stuck in the 8600-9000 trading range where it’s now looked comfortable for more than a month. The rate-sensitive stocks continue to weigh on the ASX with retail and real estate continuing to drag the local index back despite the best efforts of the miners which saw the materials sector gain +4.3% through the week, with more set to come on Monday.
The ASX200 ended its 8-day losing streak on Friday with a solid +0.7% advance, although it promised more early on before the “Big Four Banks” reversed lower. It felt worse, but come the closing bell on Friday, the index was only down 0.6% for the week, although compared to the strong gains in the US, it was a clear disappointment. It was the big end of town that reined in the market last week, with the banks and heavyweight miners retreating. Next Wednesday, we see the RBA step up on interest rates, with credit markets pricing in a ~74% probability of a 0.25% hike, while on the following Tuesday, we will receive the Federal Budget- there’s no rest for the wicked in May!
The ASX200 ended the penultimate week of April, surrendering -1.8% of the month's gain, with a string of profit downgrades combining with the country’s high vulnerability to the global fuel crisis caused by the Iran war - the oil price continues to grind higher with no clear resolution in sight for the conflict. A wave of profit downgrades swept the ASX, led this week by Cochlear’s earnings shock, which sent its shares plunging 40%. Other companies warning that surging energy costs will weigh on earnings included Qantas, Worley, a2 Milk, Orora, Cleanaway and Qube. The ASX is also struggling because its two heavyweight sectors have come off the boil, the banks and resources.
The ASX200 finished the week down -0.2%, snapping a 3-week winning streak as it failed to embrace the strength across global indices. A +13% surge by the tech sector wasn't enough to offset losses by the influential banks, with the financial sector ending the week down -2.1%. Westpac set the tone early in the week, flagging that interest-rate volatility tied to the Iran conflict had hit its market’s income and prompted higher credit provisions. While not unexpected given rising rates, cost-of-living pressures and higher fuel prices, the update reinforced a cautious “if in doubt, get out” stance from investors ahead of May results from ANZ, NAB and Westpac
The ASX200 finished a choppy week up +1%, a solid result given the index gapped down ~2% on Monday. Volatility was elevated, with three sessions posting 100-point intraday swings—moves that would typically define a month. Geopolitics remain front of mind: the US and Israel struck Iranian nuclear and steel facilities on Friday, prompting retaliation across the Persian Gulf. The escalation followed President Trump's delay of a deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Markets remain on edge, with Brent Crude above $US113 the key focus, the prolonged conflict is increasing the risk of more meaningful damage to the global economy.
The ASX200 ended a tough week down -2.2%, extending March’s retreat to -8.4% with more losses likely on Monday. Materials (-7.1%) and Tech stocks (-4.2%) continued to lead the decline, as fears around global growth and inflation escalated as the war dragged on with no end in sight, and oil prices looked increasingly comfortable above $US110. On Friday night, selling intensified into the U.S. afternoon session after Reuters reported Iraq had declared force majeure on oilfields operated by foreign companies, while President Trump said he was not seeking a ceasefire with Iran. Now entering its fourth week, roughly in line with Trump’s initial timeframe, the conflict is nonetheless unsettling Washington, as Iran’s ability to disrupt oil markets with relative ease continues to drive global angst.
The ASX200 ended a choppy week down 2.6%, with the Middle East conflict weighing on equities. Energy was the only sector to finish higher, while rate-sensitive tech (-7%) and real estate (-5%) dragged on the index as surging oil prices reignited inflation fears. The influential materials sector also endured a tough week, retreating -4.7% as weakness in copper and gold stocks offset a bounce in iron ore names. However, the market's largest stock, BHP, weighed heavily on the index, falling 5.7% over the week as a Chinese ban on its iron ore caused increasing angst. The moves on Friday night in the US point to more of the same next week, with gold and copper stocks coming under renewed pressure.
The ASX200 experienced a choppy week, ultimately closing up +0.2% following Fridays triple-digit loss as tensions between the US and Iran took a turn for the worse. The local index was threatening to break out toward fresh highs on Thursday before yesterday’s -1.5% sell-off, leaving the market stuck in the 8600-9000 trading range where it’s now looked comfortable for more than a month. The rate-sensitive stocks continue to weigh on the ASX with retail and real estate continuing to drag the local index back despite the best efforts of the miners which saw the materials sector gain +4.3% through the week, with more set to come on Monday.
The ASX200 ended its 8-day losing streak on Friday with a solid +0.7% advance, although it promised more early on before the “Big Four Banks” reversed lower. It felt worse, but come the closing bell on Friday, the index was only down 0.6% for the week, although compared to the strong gains in the US, it was a clear disappointment. It was the big end of town that reined in the market last week, with the banks and heavyweight miners retreating. Next Wednesday, we see the RBA step up on interest rates, with credit markets pricing in a ~74% probability of a 0.25% hike, while on the following Tuesday, we will receive the Federal Budget- there’s no rest for the wicked in May!
The ASX200 ended the penultimate week of April, surrendering -1.8% of the month's gain, with a string of profit downgrades combining with the country’s high vulnerability to the global fuel crisis caused by the Iran war - the oil price continues to grind higher with no clear resolution in sight for the conflict. A wave of profit downgrades swept the ASX, led this week by Cochlear’s earnings shock, which sent its shares plunging 40%. Other companies warning that surging energy costs will weigh on earnings included Qantas, Worley, a2 Milk, Orora, Cleanaway and Qube. The ASX is also struggling because its two heavyweight sectors have come off the boil, the banks and resources.
The ASX200 finished the week down -0.2%, snapping a 3-week winning streak as it failed to embrace the strength across global indices. A +13% surge by the tech sector wasn't enough to offset losses by the influential banks, with the financial sector ending the week down -2.1%. Westpac set the tone early in the week, flagging that interest-rate volatility tied to the Iran conflict had hit its market’s income and prompted higher credit provisions. While not unexpected given rising rates, cost-of-living pressures and higher fuel prices, the update reinforced a cautious “if in doubt, get out” stance from investors ahead of May results from ANZ, NAB and Westpac
The ASX200 finished a choppy week up +1%, a solid result given the index gapped down ~2% on Monday. Volatility was elevated, with three sessions posting 100-point intraday swings—moves that would typically define a month. Geopolitics remain front of mind: the US and Israel struck Iranian nuclear and steel facilities on Friday, prompting retaliation across the Persian Gulf. The escalation followed President Trump's delay of a deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Markets remain on edge, with Brent Crude above $US113 the key focus, the prolonged conflict is increasing the risk of more meaningful damage to the global economy.
The ASX200 ended a tough week down -2.2%, extending March’s retreat to -8.4% with more losses likely on Monday. Materials (-7.1%) and Tech stocks (-4.2%) continued to lead the decline, as fears around global growth and inflation escalated as the war dragged on with no end in sight, and oil prices looked increasingly comfortable above $US110. On Friday night, selling intensified into the U.S. afternoon session after Reuters reported Iraq had declared force majeure on oilfields operated by foreign companies, while President Trump said he was not seeking a ceasefire with Iran. Now entering its fourth week, roughly in line with Trump’s initial timeframe, the conflict is nonetheless unsettling Washington, as Iran’s ability to disrupt oil markets with relative ease continues to drive global angst.
The ASX200 ended a choppy week down 2.6%, with the Middle East conflict weighing on equities. Energy was the only sector to finish higher, while rate-sensitive tech (-7%) and real estate (-5%) dragged on the index as surging oil prices reignited inflation fears. The influential materials sector also endured a tough week, retreating -4.7% as weakness in copper and gold stocks offset a bounce in iron ore names. However, the market's largest stock, BHP, weighed heavily on the index, falling 5.7% over the week as a Chinese ban on its iron ore caused increasing angst. The moves on Friday night in the US point to more of the same next week, with gold and copper stocks coming under renewed pressure.
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