Australian market dips as tech and retail weigh
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) edged down 9.2 points, or 0.1 per cent, with seven of eleven sectors closing lower as weakness in consumer discretionary and technology stocks outweighed gains in healthcare. Among retail names, Wesfarmers Limited (ASX: WES) declined 2.2 per cent, while JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), Myer Holdings Limited (ASX: MYR), Eagers Automotive Limited (ASX: APE), and Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX: ALL) all posted losses. Gold miners also faced selling pressure as bullion briefly breached US$4000 per ounce, leading to declines in Vault Minerals Limited (ASX: VLT), Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU) and Greatland Gold plc (ASX: GGP).
Healthcare and individual movers buck the trend
Healthcare stocks helped offset broader losses, led by Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB), which jumped 9.4 per cent following a strong update on US revenues for its Ryoncil therapy. Gains were also seen in ResMed Inc (ASX: RMD), Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX), Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME), Sigma Healthcare Limited (ASX: SIG), and Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH). Among notable movers, James Hardie Industries plc (ASX: JHX) surged 9.9 per cent after reporting better-than-expected second-quarter sales, while Apiam Animal Health Limited (ASX: AHX) climbed 6.7 per cent after confirming due diligence progress with private equity firm Adamantem. DroneShield Limited (ASX: DRO) rose 7.8 per cent on software enhancements, and NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH) added 3 per cent after upgrading guidance and completing an acquisition.
US tech stocks drive global momentum
Global markets found support from renewed tech optimism, with the S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPX) rising 0.6 per cent, the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: IXIC) advancing 1.1 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI) finishing flat. Gains were driven by AI-linked stocks including Advanced Micro Devices Inc (NASDAQ: AMD), which rallied 11.3 per cent amid OpenAI deal momentum, alongside strength in Micron Technology Inc (NASDAQ: MU), Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) and Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN). The release of the latest Federal Reserve minutes reinforced expectations of further rate cuts amid persistent inflation and a fragile labour market, while Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ: CSCO) advanced on the launch of a new AI chip.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | -0.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 5.2 | 12.8 |
| Financials | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 22.2 |
| Resources | -0.2 | 2.5 | 5.6 | 19.3 | 14.9 |
| Information Technology | -0.6 | -0.7 | -0.2 | 3.3 | 19.2 |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 7.0 | 19.4 |
| Europe | -0.2 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 20.9 |
| Japan | -0.2 | 2.5 | 1.2 | 10.8 | 20.3 |
| China top 50 | -1.1 | 0.1 | 4.9 | 11.1 | 34.8 |
| India top 50 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | -6.1 | -3.3 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | 0.2 | 0.1 | -0.1 | 0.5 | 4.0 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 4.9 |
| US Treasury | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 2.3 | 2.8 |
| Cash | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 4.2 |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | 2.1 | 3.1 | 9.4 | 18.6 | 54.7 |
| Silver | 0.5 | 2.8 | 17.5 | 30.1 | 60.1 |
| Crude Oil | 0.6 | -0.1 | -0.2 | -5.6 | -3.8 |
| Bitcoin | -1.8 | 4.7 | 8.6 | 11.6 | 100.8 |