End of Day – Mon 21 Feb

• The ASX 200 closed up 12 points at 7243 (+0.16%), bouncing off 7200.The market rallied from opening losses on reports that Biden and Putin would meet for a summit. Banks and iron ore miners bounced hard on the news from Ukraine; the Big Bank Basket rose to $180.86 (+0.5%). WBC up 1.4% and NAB up 0.6%. QBE rallied 4.8% on broker comments, ASX had a good day up 1.9%, and NWL recovered from recent losses up 3.3%. MFG dropped 1.2%, giving back some gains from Friday as shorts relaxed slightly. Healthcare under pressure, CSL down 0.8%, SHL off 3.6% on disappointing numbers, industrials firmed on geopolitical news, TLS rose 1.5% after a deal with TPG up 3.1%. 
• Consumer stocks were buoyed by EDV rising 10.3% on results, COL up 1.1% and WES up 0.3%. Travel stocks were modestly firm as Australia opened its border today. WEB up 0.7% and FLT up 0.3% with CTD better by 0.3%. Tech remained on the nose with SQ2 down heavily 6.8% and fintechs generally under pressure. TYR tapped out on results, falling 25.9%, XRO falling 1.3% and WTC off 1.9%. All Tech Index down again by 1.7%. Miners were better, BHP up 0.6%, RIO up 0.8% though FMG missed out, falling 1.2%. IGO fell 6.4% as it responded to media speculation that it was looking to buy CSA Copper mine from Glencore. Lithium stocks flat, uninspiring today, energy stocks under a little pressure as oil drifted lower on Iran and Ukraine developments. 
• In corporate news, AGL rose 10.6% on a bid from Cannon-Brookes and Brookfield, A2M up 11.1% on better numbers and outlook, EDV rose 10.3% as profits beat estimates. TYR was the biggest loser as results disappointed again. Z1P off 7.8%, remains in talks to take over SZL, both suffering. Nothing on the economic front.10-year yields steady at 2.20%. 

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