End of Day Report – Friday 5 April: ASX 200 Falls 1.5% for the Week

ASX 200 finished down 44 points to 7773 (-0.6%) to close out a miserable week down around 1.5%. Broad-based losses following the dip in the US last night. Jobs number tonight shaping up as a crucial data point. Banks eased back slightly, the Big Bank Basket off to $207.53 (-0.2%). MQG fell 0.9% with insurers off too. GQG bucked the trend up 4.1% with good increase in flows and FUM. REITS fell slightly, GMG down 1.0%, and healthcare eased back as CSL dropped another 0.7%. Industrials were weak, but no real damage done, tech slid with the All-Tech Index down 1.4% as WTC fell 1.7% and XRO dropped 1.7%. Resources were again weaker iron ore stocks under pressure despite no trade in China today for iron ore. BHP fell 0.9%, with RIO off 1.0%. Lithium stocks slipped after some gains yesterday, with PLS down 1.3% and LTR off 1.7%. Gold miners mixed as bullion consolidated. SBM had a good day on a production guidance report, up 7.9%. Oil and gas were better as expected, coal stocks and uranium fell. In corporate news, MFG fell 3.7% on its FUM news, and WAF confirmed guidance falling 0.8%. On the economic front, BoP and retail sales did nothing for market sentiment. Asian markets are muted given China is still closed for a holiday. Japan eased back. 10-year yields fell back to 4.1%. Dow Futures up 35 points. NASDAQ Futures up 44 points.

Why not sign up for a free trial? Get access to expert market insights and manage your investments with confidence.

Ready to invest in yourself? Join the Marcus Today community.