End of Day Report – Wednesday 21st May - ASX up 44 - CBA hits record - Banks lead - MYX and NUF crater - US Futures ease.

The ASX 200 rallied another 44 points to 8387 (+0.5%). Off its highs but still looking ok. Once again, the banks led us up, CBA hitting a record high, up 1.5%, with the Big Bank Basket up to $273.04 (+1.2%). MQG is up 1.0% with insurers flat. 10-year yields at 4.48%. Other financials eased, and REITs drifted slightly higher. Industrials mixed, TLS continuing higher up 0.6% and ALL down 1.5% with retail taking a break. Tech stocks saw selling in WTC and XRO, but TNE was up 5.9% again as retail eased back. Healthcare stocks resumed the uptrend, with RMD bouncing back 4.0% and FPH up 3.1%, too. In resources, BHP and RIO rose, but FMG drifted 0.1% lower. Gold miners were better, bullion and geo-political risks helping here, NEM up 3.6% and NST rallying 3.2%, with PRU doing very well, up 9.7%. Lithium stocks slipped lower, and oil and gas stocks were pushed higher on rumours that Israel would attack Iranian nuclear facilities. Uranium stocks are rallying slightly.

In corporate news, JHX fell 6.2% on disappointing numbers, and MYX dropped 29.8% as the bidder is trying to wriggle out of the deal with private equity. NUF collapsed 30.1% after downgrading guidance. CAT jumped 13.7% on a 19% increase in revenues. Gold and silver are pushing ahead again in Asian trade. On the economic front, Commonwealth Bank expects the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates earlier than expected. Asian markets saw Japan fall 0.2% with HK up 0.4% and China up 0.1%.

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