Marcus Today End of Day Podcast – Monday 19th December

ASX 200 closed down 15 points to 7134 (0.2%). Volumes starting to thin out pre Xmas. Not a bad performance considering US falls. Resources once again finding support with BHP, RIO and FMG all in the green. Gold miners too showing good strength today with NST up 3.4%, EVN up 4.3% and NCM down 0.3% on news of the CEO retiring. Lithium stocks trying hard and failing in places to find support. Oil and gas stocks better as oil prices rising in Asia. WDS up 0.4% and coal stocks ahead, WHC up 3.1% and YAL better by 2.3%. Base metals stocks better too. Banks were mixed but more drift than pressure, CBA down % with the Big Bank Basket down to $182.86 (0.3%). Insurers fell despite 10-year yields picking up. SUN down 0.3% and QBE down 0.9%. Healthcare fell led by CSL off 1.1% and RMD down 0.9%. Industrials mainly weaker, COL off 1.3%, ALL off 2.0% and SGR getting smashed on NSW tax changes down 17.8%. REITs fell on higher rates, GMG off 1.7% and MGR down 1.4%. Tech eased at the close, XRO off 0.4% and the Index down 0.4 %. In corporate news, STX made a scrip play for WGO, MCR saw Wyloo emerge as a near 20% holder. PRN rose 10.6% on a decent update, GMD saw some director buying.  BWX has downgraded its earnings and has replaced the chair but still remains suspended. David Jones has been sold to Anchorage PE. In economic news, not much to get excited about but in some positive political news, Penny Wong is heading to China. Asian markets slightly lower, 10 year yields up to 3.51%

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