The ASX 200 ended the short week up just +0.2%, but the volatility over the 4-days was more than many months! The energy and materials sectors were again the top performers, but Friday's savage 100-point reversal dented many of the previous high flyers, while the rate-sensitive consumer discretionary and tech sectors fought over the wooden spoon, again.
This week is likely to be a very different market following the confirmed nomination of Kevin Warsh to be the next Federal Reserve Chair, taking over from Jerome Powell. Warsh is seen as more inclined than other finalists to guard against rising price pressures, a stance that would translate into monetary policy that is supportive of the US dollar. That saw the $US push up nearly 1% sending Gold & other commodities sharply lower. Gold experienced a top-to-bottom $US900/oz plunge overnight which will have the miners on the back foot on Monday,
The ASX 200 finished a choppy week down just -0.5%, recovering from early weakness sparked by President Trump’s threats toward European allies tied to his ambitions around Greenland. While the rhetoric was quickly walked back at Davos, the episode was a reminder of how abruptly geopolitical risk can re-emerge. Yet markets largely shrugged it off, highlighting their resilience to headline-driven volatility. The “buy-the-dip” trade — closely tied to the so-called “TACO trade” (Trump Always Chickens Out) — continues to deliver, at least for now. The market may feel unsettled to many, but it's still up +1.7% year-to-date, dragged higher by a robust materials sector, which has already surged +9.3% in 2026.
The ASX 200 finished a choppy week down just -0.5%, recovering from early weakness sparked by President Trump’s threats toward European allies tied to his ambitions around Greenland. While the rhetoric was quickly walked back at Davos, the episode was a reminder of how abruptly geopolitical risk can re-emerge. Yet markets largely shrugged it off, highlighting their resilience to headline-driven volatility. The “buy-the-dip” trade — closely tied to the so-called “TACO trade” (Trump Always Chickens Out) — continues to deliver, at least for now. The market may feel unsettled to many, but it's still up +1.7% year-to-date, dragged higher by a robust materials sector, which has already surged +9.3% in 2026.
The ASX 200 ended the week down -0.9%, leaving December up just +0.1% with the quiet Christmas period ahead. However, with the market set to open strongly on Monday morning, a Santa Rally could be set to arrive, albeit extremely late. Remember, the average gain for a December over the last 10 and 20 years is 1.0% and +1.2% respectively, still comfortably attainable by the local market from today’s position.
The ASX 200 surged +1.2% on Friday, taking the local bourse to fresh 4-week highs as the miners continued to support the market. The index ended the week up +0.7% but it felt like more after the strong rally into the weekend saw the local bourse enjoy its best session in five weeks. The tech rotation story continues, but fortunately for the ASX, the influential miners have been major beneficiaries as commodity prices charge higher, led this week by silver and copper.
The ASX 200 recovered late in the week after a sluggish start, finishing up +0.2% over the five days. It was a notably quiet week overall, with the index trading within a narrow 0.8% range. However, on the sector level, it was another very polarised week with the materials +3% and energy +2.4% sectors extending recent strength while the rate-sensitive tech, healthcare and consumer discretionary names continued to struggle with the futures market now pricing in one, perhaps two rate hikes by the RBA in 2026, what a difference a few weeks make!
The ASX 200 bounced back +2.4% last week following dovish comments from several Fed members. Gains were broad-based, with tech, materials, healthcare, and the industrial sectors all advancing by over 4%; only the Energy sector failed to advance. This week's rise on the ASX came despite Wednesday's higher-than-expected local inflation figures, which prompted speculation from some that the RBA may hike interest rates next year. Even so, the future path of Australian interest rates remains debated, and some market economists maintain the RBA could still cut rates from today's level of 3.6% - MM believes there will be no change, just plenty of speculation until 2027.
The ASX 200 ended the week down another -2.5% with only the defensive natured consumer staples sector managing to eke out a small gain. It was the local market's worst week since “Liberation Day” with the index closing at its lowest level since June, on a combination of worries around stretched valuations and the direction of interest rates. On Friday, the local bourse closed 7.7% below its all-time high posted in October when the prospect of lower rates was managing to offset lingering fears around frothy valuations.
The ASX 200 ended the week down 1.5% trading at its lowest level since July, with the vast majority of the damage unfolding on Friday. The week ended with the local market suffering its worst day in 10 weeks amid a global pullback in risk assets. Hawkish comments by Fed officials on Thursday night dialled back expectations that they would cut rates in December, sending rate-sensitive stocks lower. The tech, financial, and real estate sectors were the worst performers, while the materials and energy names again led the line, gaining 3.8% and 1.9%, respectively
The ASX 200 finished the week down -1.3%, sliding to new 9-week lows on Friday and marking 7 declines in the past 9 trading sessions. Only the energy sector provided meaningful support to the index, while technology, resources, and rate-sensitive areas such as consumer discretionary and real estate noticeably underperformed.
The ASX 200 finished a choppy week down just -0.5%, recovering from early weakness sparked by President Trump’s threats toward European allies tied to his ambitions around Greenland. While the rhetoric was quickly walked back at Davos, the episode was a reminder of how abruptly geopolitical risk can re-emerge. Yet markets largely shrugged it off, highlighting their resilience to headline-driven volatility. The “buy-the-dip” trade — closely tied to the so-called “TACO trade” (Trump Always Chickens Out) — continues to deliver, at least for now. The market may feel unsettled to many, but it's still up +1.7% year-to-date, dragged higher by a robust materials sector, which has already surged +9.3% in 2026.
The ASX 200 finished a choppy week down just -0.5%, recovering from early weakness sparked by President Trump’s threats toward European allies tied to his ambitions around Greenland. While the rhetoric was quickly walked back at Davos, the episode was a reminder of how abruptly geopolitical risk can re-emerge. Yet markets largely shrugged it off, highlighting their resilience to headline-driven volatility. The “buy-the-dip” trade — closely tied to the so-called “TACO trade” (Trump Always Chickens Out) — continues to deliver, at least for now. The market may feel unsettled to many, but it's still up +1.7% year-to-date, dragged higher by a robust materials sector, which has already surged +9.3% in 2026.
The ASX 200 ended the week down -0.9%, leaving December up just +0.1% with the quiet Christmas period ahead. However, with the market set to open strongly on Monday morning, a Santa Rally could be set to arrive, albeit extremely late. Remember, the average gain for a December over the last 10 and 20 years is 1.0% and +1.2% respectively, still comfortably attainable by the local market from today’s position.
The ASX 200 surged +1.2% on Friday, taking the local bourse to fresh 4-week highs as the miners continued to support the market. The index ended the week up +0.7% but it felt like more after the strong rally into the weekend saw the local bourse enjoy its best session in five weeks. The tech rotation story continues, but fortunately for the ASX, the influential miners have been major beneficiaries as commodity prices charge higher, led this week by silver and copper.
The ASX 200 recovered late in the week after a sluggish start, finishing up +0.2% over the five days. It was a notably quiet week overall, with the index trading within a narrow 0.8% range. However, on the sector level, it was another very polarised week with the materials +3% and energy +2.4% sectors extending recent strength while the rate-sensitive tech, healthcare and consumer discretionary names continued to struggle with the futures market now pricing in one, perhaps two rate hikes by the RBA in 2026, what a difference a few weeks make!
The ASX 200 bounced back +2.4% last week following dovish comments from several Fed members. Gains were broad-based, with tech, materials, healthcare, and the industrial sectors all advancing by over 4%; only the Energy sector failed to advance. This week's rise on the ASX came despite Wednesday's higher-than-expected local inflation figures, which prompted speculation from some that the RBA may hike interest rates next year. Even so, the future path of Australian interest rates remains debated, and some market economists maintain the RBA could still cut rates from today's level of 3.6% - MM believes there will be no change, just plenty of speculation until 2027.
The ASX 200 ended the week down another -2.5% with only the defensive natured consumer staples sector managing to eke out a small gain. It was the local market's worst week since “Liberation Day” with the index closing at its lowest level since June, on a combination of worries around stretched valuations and the direction of interest rates. On Friday, the local bourse closed 7.7% below its all-time high posted in October when the prospect of lower rates was managing to offset lingering fears around frothy valuations.
The ASX 200 ended the week down 1.5% trading at its lowest level since July, with the vast majority of the damage unfolding on Friday. The week ended with the local market suffering its worst day in 10 weeks amid a global pullback in risk assets. Hawkish comments by Fed officials on Thursday night dialled back expectations that they would cut rates in December, sending rate-sensitive stocks lower. The tech, financial, and real estate sectors were the worst performers, while the materials and energy names again led the line, gaining 3.8% and 1.9%, respectively
The ASX 200 finished the week down -1.3%, sliding to new 9-week lows on Friday and marking 7 declines in the past 9 trading sessions. Only the energy sector provided meaningful support to the index, while technology, resources, and rate-sensitive areas such as consumer discretionary and real estate noticeably underperformed.
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