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Aussie markets are being tipped to end Week 4 in the green, with ASX 200 futures pointing to a 0.32% gain – to 8,402 points – before open this morning.
Though the bourse slipped into the red yesterday, Trump’s latest threats to lay “trillions” in tariffs on Europe to wrangle interest rates have mainly taken markets higher; even the Stoxx Europe 600 was up a little over 0.4%.
Similarly, his pledge to “bring down the cost of oil” with U.S. pressure on the Middle East has many investors around the globe feeling quite bullish.
The S&P 500 was the biggest winner, closing at an all-time high; its first under Trump.
The Dow Jones similarly rose, up 0.92%, while the Nasdaq added 0.2%.
However, Trump won’t be the only global mover and shaker today, with Japan’s central bank meeting to discuss policies. The last time the Bank of Japan met, its surprise decision triggered a somewhat steep global selling rush.
Back home, Earlypay (ASX:EPY) is preparing to hang the for-sale sign after the board caught wind that COG Financial Services (ASX:COG) will sell its 21.4% stake.
KMD Brands (ASX:KMD), which owns Kathmandu, Rip Curl, and Oboz, has seen a sales increase in the December quarter; improving sales are expected to continue through 2025 – and maybe even get the retailer out of the red.
In a similar recovery, Synlait Milk (ASX:SM1) is forecast to “return to profitability” this year.
Marmota Limited (ASX:MEU) has been the most watched stock on HotCopper forums through this morning after the Oz explorer fired up drills at its Muckanippie discovery.
Genesis Energy (ASX:GNE) will be closely tracked too after the power provider declared it’s looking to boost renewable generation in its portfolio “to support the growing number of intermittent renewable generation in the market.”
Looking at forex, the Aussie dollar is buying 62.8 US cents.
To commodities, which are in the greenback, and things are mostly up after Trump’s shock and awe tariffs seem to have been largely ignored now he’s taken office.
Iron Ore has been one of the biggest winners following Trump’s Davos speech, up 0.33% to sell at $103.90 a tonne in Singapore,
Brent Crude is trading down slightly at $77.85,
Gold is trading at $2,760 per ounce, and,
US natgas futures are at $3.94 per gigajoule.
That’s Market Open, I’m Isaac McIntyre, stick with us for HotCopper’s Market Update.
