End of Day Report – Friday 23rd May ASX 200 up 12 - Banks better - Gold eases - Uranium sector soars - MYR update.

Market Updates

The ASX 200 limped 12 points higher to 8361 (+0.2%) ahead of a long weekend in the US. For the week, we are up 17 points. Banks once again firm, CBA up another 0.7% with the Big Bank Basket up to $271.95 (+0.6%). ANZ outperforming. Insurers rose slightly, and financial services better, with XYZ up 5.5% and GQG bouncing 2.4%. REITs were firm, GMG up 2.2% and SGP rising 0.2% as 10-year yields steadied to 4.45%. Healthcare is flat, tech stocks are slightly better, XRO is up 0.7%, and the Index is up 0.9%. ‘Old Skool’ platforms are doing ok, REA up 0.5% and CAR up 1.3%. TLS continues to push ahead. Retail better, JBH up 1.6% and MYR up 5.4% following a sales update. Utilities are under a little pressure on an ORG downgrade, off 1.1%. Resources were mainly weaker; iron ore stocks eased back, FMG was down 2.4%, with gold miners drifting slightly lower. Uranium stocks are on fire as Reuters reported that Trump will sign an order to benefit the uranium and nuclear industry. BOE up 12.1%, PDN up 6.7% and SLX up a huge 15.3%. Oil and gas are moving a smidge higher.

In corporate news, BEN results out this morning, up 0.8%, and NUF continued to fall as one broker lost faith in the stock. Nothing locally on the economic front, Japanese CPI picked up more than anticipated, 3.5% excluding fresh food. Asian markets firmed, Japan up 0.6%, and HK up 0.3%. Dow futures flat, Nasdaq futures down 0.3%.

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