The ASX 200 continued its run higher, up another 39 points to 8846, although slightly off the top. The news was dominated by M&A announcements in CWY, CGF, FPR, amongst others. The banks once again proving resilient, with CBA up 0.7% and the big bank basket rising to $269.99 (0.8%). MQG eased back slightly, but insurers were better, and other financials took their cue from a bid for CGF from Japanese insurer TAL. It rose 19.3%. AMP up 3.8%. REITs were somewhat mixed, with GMG down 0.4% and CHC rising 4.5%. Industrials, too, were mixed, with some losses in healthcare stocks like RHC down X% and RMD down 0.8%. BXB rose slightly, and retail flatlined today. Technology stocks came under pressure again, with XRO down 2.4% and MP1 also falling hard again. The All-Tech Index fell 0.8%.
Meanwhile, resources were mixed, with the iron ore miners firming as BHP rose 0.7%, and oil and gas stocks were also better as the Brent crude price hovered around $110. WDS up 2.7%. There was also action in the coal sector. NHC announced a scrip bid for a privately listed coal company. Gold miners eased back slightly, as did lithium stocks again, but LYC made some gains today.
In corporate news, NXT is in a trading halt as issues surrounding power supply to a Melbourne data centre come to the fore. ALD fell 2.5% despite reporting a doubling of its refining margin. M&A activity in CWY, CGF, and INA. MSB fell hard after missing forecasts for Ryonsil sales, and BEN fell 4.0% after higher cash earnings but lower margins saw sellers return.
In economic news, the Chinese economy grew 4.5% in September. The RBA's Chris Kent spoke at a conference, saying monetary policy is still working.
Asian markets mixed with the Nikkei down 0.9%, HK up 0.5% and China unchanged. Korea under pressure again.
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