ASX 200 fell 1 point to 7683 (-0.01%) after a CPI gut punch stole the momentum. Inflation is once again higher than expected, and insurance costs and education continue to pressure the upside. Banks again led the charge higher, with the Big Bank Basket up to $203.73 (+0.4%). WBC the standout up 0.9% despite news yesterday on profit hit. REITs mixed as rates pushed higher, GMG up 1.7% with most of the sector down. Insurers better on bond yields. Healthcare mixed too, CSL taking a break. Industrials mixed, retail fell after the CPI number as rates now seem on hold for longer. Tech eased, the All-Tech Index flat. In resources, FMG gained 0.7% on production report, Gold miners found a level and bounced. NST up 1.0% and EVN up 0.5%. Lithium miners were better on Tesla sentiment moves, PLS up 1.3% and IGO up 1.5%. LTR had a good day, up 2.3%. Oil and gas stocks slightly better, copper still finding buyers, BOC up 15.4%. Must be a boom. In corporate news, NCK is raising money to push into the UK. Richard Goyder was elected Chair again at WDS with 80% voting for him. PPT fell 3.5% on FUM news, KGN crashed 27.5% on a business update, and CWY dropped back to where it started Tuesday morning on denial of takeover talk from WES. On the economic front, CPI came in above expectations and showed that inflation is still a clear and present danger with rents, insurance and school fees. Asian markets better with Japan screaming ahead by 1.7%. China up modestly with HK up 2.1%. 10Y yields boosted to 4.4%. European futures are set to open higher. Dow Futures up 61 points. NASDAQ Futures up 128 points.
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