The ASX 200 opened firm, slipped then rallied off lows as US futures stayed positive. We closed down only 4 points to 9022. Banks made a comeback, NAB up 1.0% with WBC up 1.5% and the Big Bank Basket up to $309.01 (0.3%). Financials elsewhere were smacked down on private equity fears, AI concerns and bears playing havoc post results. MQG dropped 3.6% on PE concerns, RPL rallied hard on better results, up 4.8% and NGI came under extreme pressure down 5.4%. MAF continued lower. ZIP fell another 6.4%. Insurers also fell, QBE off 1.6%. REITs too under pressure, GMG down 2.6% and SCG falling 1.1%. Industrials were mixed, WES down 1.8% and REA off 3.9% with tech under extreme pressure again, WTC fell 3.7% and XRO down 4.6% with the All-Tech Index down another 3.1%. Retail under pressure too, SUL off 2.5% and PMV falling 1.9%.

Resources were generally firm. BHP hit record highs, up 1.4% with RIO slipping 1.1% on some broker downgrades, FMG up 1.1%. Golds firmed then slid slightly as bullion prices came off the boil, NST up 1.6% and EVN up 0.8%. Lithium stocks went nuts, PLS up 8.0% and LTR rising 8.7%. Oil and gas stocks rose, WDS results cheered, STO up 0.4% and uranium stocks mixed.

In corporate news, MND pushed 5.9% higher on better than expected results, WDS managed a small rise after 24% drop in profits. NEC rallied 0.5% on numbers, VEA rose 8.1% after a stronger number. ARB had a shocker, falling 13.1% after a 17% drop in profits. KLS had a good day, up 7.8%, after announcing the sale of its tourism business.

On the economic front, Australian consumer confidence rose 3.1 points last week to 80.2.

Asian markets came back online with  Japan up 0.9%. China up 1.3% and HK falling 1.9% 

US Futures slightly firmer. Nasdaq up 120 - S&P 500 up 22.

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