It was another volatile day for the ASX 200 (ASX:XJO), with the market finishing 0.6% higher, as a weak lead from the US impacted on confidence. The only two detractors were the property and staples sector, with materials and mining once again a highlight, driven by BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP), +2.2%, and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO), 3.3%.
The ASX 200 finished 1.5% lower following a spike in COVID-19 cases in Melbourne resulting in an extended six-week lockdown. The weakness was exacerbated by record numbers in the US, where a daily record of 60,000 cases was hit.
Despite a strong overseas lead, the ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) paused on Tuesday, pushed marginally lower by the reinstatement of Stage 3 restrictions in Melbourne. A strong lead from the mining sector, particularly gold with St Barbara Mining Ltd (ASX:SBM) adding 10.3% and BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) up 1.3%, wasn’t enough to overcome an afternoon collapse in the property and travel sectors.
The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) closed above 6,000 points for the third straight day, despite falling 0.7% for the session. Technology was the only positive sector with the major miners the biggest detractors, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) down 1.7% and 1.0% respectively, amid signs of a rebound in Brazilian exports reported by Vale S.A (BVMF:VALE3).
What a month, with markets rallying again, capping off the strongest quarter for the ASX in more than 20 years. The technology-focused Nasdaq reached all-time highs and the S&P 500 had its best quarter since 1938. The month continued the ‘changing of the guard’ trend, with the old-fashioned, capital intensive sectors, such as property, energy…
The quarter saw an onslaught of record-breaking economic data, as Australia officially entered its first recession in nearly 30 years. The economy contracted a comparatively strong 0.3% in the March quarter and is expected to fall as much as 8-10% in June as the worst of the economic shutdowns hit. It’s clear that Australia’s world leading fiscal stimulus is very much needed to support a recovery.
It was another strong finish for the ASX 200 on Friday, adding 0.4% and finishing the week up 2.6% on the back of rally in both the healthcare and communications sectors. CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL), up 2.7%, and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX:TLS), 4.0%, were the standouts. The market continues to improve despite the worsening COVID-19 case numbers in Victoria and the US which seem likely to result in a second round of shutdown measures.
The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) followed a strong global lead pushing 1.7% higher, with all sectors benefiting. The most stunning performance has come from Afterpay Ltd (ASX:APT) which after hitting another all-time high has become the 19th most valuable company at $18 billion; this despite losing $32 million last year.
Most global markets started the financial year on a positive note, with the ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) adding 0.6% despite reports that just 30% of jobs lost during the COVID-19 crisis have been replaced.
Sharemarkets around the world continued to rally overnight, with the S&P 500 up 1.5% marking the strongest quarter since 1998. The Eurostoxx 50 was comparatively weaker adding just 0.06% whilst the Nasdaq rallied another 1.9% as investors ignored the existential threat to Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB).
