End of Day Report – Monday 24 March: ASX 200 fights off early losses | JHX crashes on merger

The ASX 200 rose 6 points to 7937 (0.1%) in quiet trade ahead of the Budget. Banks were firm with the Big Bank Basket at $242.34 (+1.5%). Tariff proof fenced perhaps. CBA up 1.4% and insurers better too, QBE up 0.3%. REITs were a little mixed, GMG down 0.6% and SCG rising 0.6%. RPL was smashed 14.8% on news from OPT that it had missed Phase III end point. RPL owns 32% of the biotech. In the industrials, WOW and COL both giving back some of the optimism from Friday’s ACCC report. Tech stocks also under pressure, WTC down 2.9% and 360 falling 4.4%. The All-Tech Index down 0.5%. Retail weaker, PMV down 2.9% with NCK off 2.0% and MYR down 2.1%. WES rose as did JBH.

Resources were a mixed bag of lollies. BHP fell 0.6% with FMG up 3.2% on some broker upgrades. Gold miners were mixed, VAU down 3.2% with NST off 1.3% and BGL dropping 12.8% on change in substantial holding. MIN bounced 6.9% as the haul road reopened. Oil and gas flat, coal eased, NHC down 4.4% and WHC off with uranium sellers back. BOE down 3.5% and DYL falling 1.8%. In corporate news, JHX announced a huge US merger and dropped 14.5% on the news. HLI fell 25.6% as CBA said it may not renew its contract. SM1 curdled 12.0% on unimpressive results.

Nothing on the economic front. Asian markets flat. 10-year yields back up to 4.42%.

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