End of Day Report – Wednesday 29 January: ASX closes up 48 points | CPI better than expectations

The ASX 200 faded slightly to close up 48 points at 8447, almost at an all-time high as US markets rebounded and CPI came in better than expected opening the door to a February rate cut. Banks led the charge early before fading slightly, the Big Bank Basket closed off at $262.75 (-0.1%). MQG rose 0.7% and insurers did better with QBE up 0.7%. Financial services continue to push ahead GQG up 3.5% and ASX bouncing back 2.9%. REITS better, GMG bouncing a little, SCG up 1.1% on rate hopes. Healthcare too in demand as CSL put on 1.8% with negativity on RFK Jnr helping sentiment. Industrials firmed across the board, WES up 1.2% and BXB up 0.6% with TLS up 0.8% and ORG bouncing back 1.6%. Retail firmed on CPI data. JBH up 1.9% and PMV went ex-bonus shares today and rose 4.7%. Tech in demand on Nasdaq rally, WTC up 2.6% and XRO up 2.5% with the All-Tech Index up 1.4%.  Resources were generally firm, BHP and RIO the exceptions, gold miners doing well as quarterlies continue to drop and show cash piles, lithium bounced a little as PLS rose 3.5% on its quarterly. Despite uranium slipping below $70, stocks rallied hard after the rout yesterday. BOE quarterly helped its Honeymoon period up 5.6% and DYL up 6.9%. Oil and gas modestly higher. Asian markets better with China closed for Lunar New Year. HK up 0.1% and Japan up 0.8%. 10-year yields eased to 4.37%.

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