End of Day – Fri 25 Mar

• The ASX 200 limped 19 points higher to 7406 (0.3%) in quiet trade. Materials were once again the star sector. BHP up 1.0%, FMG up 1.7% and base metals too better, S32 up 0.4% and IGO better by 3.5%. Gold miners also in demand, NCM up 3.5% and RED up 5.5%. Lithium stocks firmed again, PLS up 3.2% and LTR up 2.7%. Oil stocks slightly positive, STO up 0.6% with coal stocks doing well, YAL up 1.7% and CRN better by 9.5%. In the banks, a slightly softer day, CBA down 1.3% and the Big Bank Basket down to $188.94 (1%). MQG bounced back 0.7% and GQG up 3.4%. 
• Industrials were firm, CWN up 0.6%, ALL up 0.9% and BXB up 1.6%. REITs firm, Tech weaker, SQ2 down 3.1%, XRO up 1.6% and CPU up 1% with the All-Tech Index down 0.4%. 
• In corporate news, FFX rose 5.6% after a resource upgrade, did JCap know? The MD of CXO resigned and PMV fell 1.6% after a good sales result and increased dividend. Nothing on the economic front ahead of the budget next week. Asian markets slightly weaker with Japan down 0.3% with China down 0.9% and HK down 1.6%

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