ASX retreats despite weekly gain
The Australian sharemarket ended lower on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) falling 0.8 per cent to 8,995.3, after reaching a record high above 9100 in the previous session. Despite the pullback, the index still posted a 0.4 per cent gain for the week. The broader All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) also dropped 0.9 per cent. Losses were widespread, with eight of the 11 sectors declining, led by energy and technology stocks. Notably, Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) tumbled 8 per cent to $45.54, marking its largest one-day loss since April.
Critical minerals slump amid policy doubts
Commodity-related companies saw mixed fortunes, with gold miners rallying as the precious metal reached a new all-time high of $US4378.69. Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) rose 2.9 per cent to $149.96, while Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST) gained 2.3 per cent to $26.05. However, shares in copper, lithium, and rare earths companies fell ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting with the US President, which will include discussions on critical minerals. Market scepticism over the Australian government’s strategy to stockpile these resources weighed heavily on stocks such as Lynas Rare Earths Limited (ASX: LYC), down 5.7 per cent, and Paladin Energy Limited (ASX: PDN), down 6.8 per cent. Meanwhile, Iluka Resources Limited (ASX: ILU) dropped 2.4 per cent after withdrawing its sales forecast due to issues with a key customer. Among the major miners, BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) dipped 0.4 per cent, while Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) rose 1.3 per cent. The financial sector also struggled, with QBE Insurance Group Limited (ASX: QBE) plunging 9.3 per cent and both National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB) and Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) falling 0.8 per cent.
Global gold rally and US equities rise
Internationally, gold demand surged in Asia, particularly in India, where premiums hit a decade-high as buyers prepared for Dhanteras and Diwali festivals. Spot gold exceeded $US4300 per ounce for the first time, driven by heightened US-China trade tensions and expectations of a US interest rate cut. In equity markets, the S&P 500 Index gained 0.5 per cent.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | -0.8 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 5.2 | 12.1 |
| Financials | -1.2 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 4.0 | 18.0 |
| Resources | -0.4 | 3.5 | 9.7 | 21.4 | 18.6 |
| Information Technology | -2.2 | -4.9 | -4.8 | -1.9 | 15.5 |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 17.8 |
| Europe | 0.6 | 2.8 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 22.9 |
| Japan | -0.2 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 12.5 | 22.7 |
| China top 50 | -1.2 | -0.4 | -1.4 | 7.4 | 31.4 |
| India top 50 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 3.3 | -1.0 | 1.0 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | 0.3 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 5.9 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 2.1 | 6.6 |
| US Treasury | 0.5 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.4 |
| Cash | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 4.2 |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | 3.4 | 7.8 | 18.7 | 27.8 | 61.4 |
| Silver | 2.9 | 5.0 | 31.7 | 39.7 | 69.4 |
| Crude Oil | -2.5 | -2.5 | -9.7 | -11.2 | -5.5 |
| Bitcoin | -1.8 | -12.0 | -6.5 | -11.7 | 58.1 |