Roy Keenan from Yarra Capital Management shares insights with Mishan Dahia from Atchison on balanced returns without added risk.
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Daily Market Update: 02 October 2025
ASX steady as BHP weighs and gold miners shine
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) swung between gains and losses, closing marginally down 3.1 points at 8,845.7, as weakness in heavyweight BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) and consumer names offset modest strength in utilities and industrials. The decline in BHP was exacerbated by reports that China temporarily barred purchases of the miner’s iron ore from the Pilbara, casting a shadow over Australia’s export outlook. Meanwhile, the gold sector stood out, Westgold Resources Limited (ASX: WGX) surged after announcing a boost to production targets, with Capricorn Metals Limited (ASX: CMM) and others in the mining space also posting gains. The utilities sector provided some cushion, with AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL) among the outperformers.Gold rallies, lithium stumbles amid shifting global signals
Investors sought refuge in “safe‑haven” assets amid the geopolitical and policy uncertainty of a looming US government shutdown. That drove gold to fresh record levels, supported also by falling interest rates and a softer US dollar. On the flipside, the lithium and battery metals complex pulled back as Chinese regulatory approvals and supply signals dampened sentiment. Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS) and Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR) notably fell. In smaller‑cap stocks, DroneShield Limited (ASX: DRO) jumped strongly on renewed defence spending hopes, while Bravura Solutions Limited (ASX: BVS) rallied on upgraded guidance.Wall Street climbs to record highs despite US shutdown
Across the Pacific, Wall Street notched record highs even as the US government entered shutdown mode. Gains in the healthcare sector led the advance, aided by positive sentiment around pharmaceutical policy developments. The S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPX), Nasdaq‑100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX), and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA: DJI) all closed at fresh highs, suggesting markets were pricing in a short‐lived shutdown and elevated expectations for Federal Reserve rate easing.Australian Indices Daily % Weekly % 1 Month % 3 Month % 1 Year % ASX 200 -0.0 0.9 -0.4 4.7 11.4 Financials 0.1 1.4 -0.7 1.0 21.6 Resources -0.6 3.2 3.6 20.2 8.9 Information Technology 0.2 -0.4 0.5 5.4 23.2 Global Indices Daily % Weekly % 1 Month % 3 Month % 1 Year % US 500 0.3 0.2 2.4 7.2 22.9 Europe 0.8 0.7 1.2 2.7 20.9 Japan -0.9 -1.3 1.4 6.9 19.3 China top 50 0.1 0.7 4.7 12.5 25.3 India top 50 0.7 -2.0 -1.9 -7.5 -5.7 Fixed Interest Daily % Weekly % 1 Month % 3 Month % 1 Year % Australian Treasury Bond -0.2 -0.2 0.0 -0.4 2.7 Australian Corporate Bond 0.0 -0.2 0.1 0.0 3.6 US Treasury 0.0 -0.1 0.9 1.3 1.2 Cash 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.9 4.3 Commodities & Crypto Daily % Weekly % 1 Month % 3 Month % 1 Year % Gold -0.3 1.1 8.9 13.2 48.7 Silver -0.4 4.7 12.6 25.3 52.0 Crude Oil -1.3 -2.3 -0.2 1.4 3.3 Bitcoin 0.8 2.9 6.6 10.0 99.0 -
Investment Leaders Forum 2025: INBrief with Rachael Lockyer from MLC Asset Management
Rachael Lockyer from MLC Asset Management speaks to James Dunn from The Inside Network’s Investment Leaders Forum in Queenstown, New Zealand on unlocking value creation through operational efficiency.
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Daily Market Update: 01 October 2025
Energy sector weakness weighs on ASX
The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slipped 0.2 per cent, closing at 8,848.8, as weakness in energy stocks outweighed gains in gold miners. A second straight session of lower oil prices, driven by supply concerns and hopes for de‑escalation in the Middle East, weighed heavily on sector sentiment. Meanwhile, the market largely dismissed the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to leave interest rates on hold, as traders scaled back expectations of a November rate cut.Gold stocks rally, media and education names surge
Prices in oil and gas bore the brunt of selling: Woodside Energy Limited (ASX: WDS) lost 1.7 per cent, Santos Limited (ASX: STO) dropped 2.5 per cent, Karoon Energy Limited (ASX: KAR) fell 1.7 per cent and Beach Energy Limited (ASX: BPT) slid 3.4 per cent. In contrast, gold and mining stocks held up strongly, with BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) rising 1.5 per cent and smaller miners like Ramelius Resources Limited (ASX: RMS), Bellevue Gold Limited (ASX: BGL) and Capricorn Metals Limited (ASX: CMM) all posting gains amid a rally in gold to record highs. Corporate news also fueled momentum: a proposed merger between Seven West Media Limited (ASX: SWM) and Southern Cross Media Group Limited (ASX: SXL) drove their shares higher, and IDP Education Limited (ASX: IDP) jumped sharply despite lacking new announcements.Wall Street edges up amid shutdown worries
US equities ended modestly higher. The S&P 500 Index (NYSE: SPX) gained 0.4 per cent, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI) added 82 points to reach a record high, and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQ: IXIC) rose 0.3 per cent. Optimism about earnings in tech and healthcare was offset by concerns over a looming US government shutdown, which could delay key economic data and weigh on sentiment. Investors remain cautious against the backdrop of a slowing labour market, weak consumer confidence and stretched equity valuations.Australian Indices Daily % Weekly % 1 Month % 3 Month % 1 Year % ASX 200 -0.2 0.0 -0.8 4.7 11.3 Financials -0.7 0.2 -0.9 1.4 22.3 Resources 1.0 2.7 3.4 19.5 9.4 Information Technology -1.9 -1.8 4.3 22.0 Global Indices Daily % Weekly % 1 Month % 3 Month % 1 Year % US 500 0.4 0.5 2.6 7.3 23.6 Europe -0.6 0.4 1.0 2.4 20.8 Japan 0.4 -0.3 2.4 7.0 20.1 China top 50 -0.6 2.2 6.4 11.8 34.8 India top 50 -0.8 -1.3 -0.4 -4.9 -4.8 Fixed Interest Daily % Weekly % 1 Month % 3 Month % 1 Year % Australian Treasury Bond 0.1 -0.2 0.0 0.0 3.2 Australian Corporate Bond 0.0 -0.2 0.1 0.4 4.1 US Treasury 0.3 0.1 1.0 1.7 1.3 Cash 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.9 4.3 Commodities & Crypto Daily % Weekly % 1 Month % 3 Month % 1 Year % Gold 1.0 1.6 11.0 15.9 49.7 Silver 0.0 6.4 20.4 29.9 56.1 Crude Oil -2.8 0.1 -0.1 1.9 3.8 Bitcoin 1.3 0.5 3.7 5.1 87.8