End of Day – Wed 20 Oct

Marcus Today Market Updates

• The ASX 200 closed up 39 points to 7414 (0.5%) in a solid but uninspiring day, limping into the close. Once again AGMs and business updates dominated the market and investors were happy to overlook the continued rise to 1.79% in 10-year yields. The AUD too doing well up to close to 75c. Tech stocks were in demand despite the rate rises, APT up 1.6% and XRO up 1.4%.
• The All-Tech Index up 1.3%. Banks as usual the biggest driver of the index with the Big Bank Basket up to $187.93. MQG doing well up 2.0% and insurers rallying on bond rates. Resources were generally positive despite coal and uranium on the nose, PDN down 1.6% and WHC off 7.9%. Energy also flat led lower by WPL down 1.8% and STO falling 1.4%. BHP rallied 0.5% on positive broker comments.
• Consumer stocks mixed on updates, SUL up 1.7%, KGN shooting the lights out as inventory issues seem to have been solved up 6.7%. In other corporate news, FLT dropped 4.8% on its trading update and TYR sagged 3.0% after it announced it would defend a class action. Nothing on the economic front today and Asian markets slightly positive, seems that Evergrande is paying some interest payments to locals just not international investors.

Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert insights and independent research and become a better investor.