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The morning catch up: ASX to open higher despite Middle East hostilities

Published 02/10/2024, 09:20 am
Updated 02/10/2024, 10:00 am
© Reuters.  The morning catch up: ASX to open higher despite Middle East hostilities
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The local market looks set to bounce back from yesterday’s loss and open higher, based on ASX SPI 200 Futures trading up 3 points (0.04%) to 8,254.

That comes despite falls in the US overnight as investors grew more cautious after Iran fired missiles at Israel.

Safe-haven assets were bid up with bonds, oil, gold and the US dollar all advancing at the expense of equities after Iran fired a barrage of missiles at Israel following an advance of forces into Lebanon.

Investors were also keeping an eye on a US port strike on the East Coast and the Gulf Coast, halting the flow of about half the nation's ocean shipping.

The technology sector was the worst performer with Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Nvidia each sinking around 3%. HP shares slumped 3.1% after Citi downgraded the personal computer maker to neutral from buy, citing a deteriorating industry setup and limited near-term artificial intelligence tailwinds.

Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) shares slid 2.2% after broker Raymond James downgraded the media conglomerate to market perform from outperform, saying moderating demand and business.

European markets

European sharemarkets were mixed on Tuesday. Most sectors fell, with euro zone banks leading losses, down 2.3%. But heavyweight energy stocks jumped 1.3%, tracking an advance in crude oil prices.

Annual inflation in the 20 countries sharing the Euro currency eased to 1.8% in September from 2.2% in August, the lowest since mid-2021. (survey: 1.8%).

Currencies

Currencies were mixed against the US dollar in European and US trade.

The Euro fell from US$1.1140 to US$1.1044 and was near US$1.1070 at the US close.

  • The Aussie dollar dipped from US69.29 cents to US68.56 cents and was near US68.85 cents at the US close.
  • The Japanese yen rose from 144.50 yen per US dollar to JPY143.03 and was near JPY143.50 at the US close.

Commodities

Global oil prices jumped on Tuesday after Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Tehran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon.

  • The Brent crude price rose by US$1.86 or 2.6% to US$73.56 a barrel.
  • The US Nymex crude price gained US$1.66 or 2.4% to US$69.83 a barrel.

A panel of ministers from the OPEC+ producer group is due to meet today to review the crude oil market.

Base metal prices advanced on Tuesday on investor optimism about economic stimulus measures from China.

  • Copper futures rose 0.9%
  • Aluminium futures added 1.2%.

The gold futures price climbed US$30.90 or 1.2% to US$2,690.30 an ounce on Tuesday on safe-haven demand as fears of a full-out war in the Middle East escalated after Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel. Spot gold was trading near US$2,662 an ounce at the US close.

Iron ore futures gained US$1.28 or 1.2% to US$108.74 a tonne on Tuesday on the back of optimism over Chinese stimulus and more US interest rate cuts.

What’s happening in small caps?

  • Nova Minerals Ltd (ASX:NVA, NASDAQ:NVA) has engaged world-renowned mine optimisation experts Whittle Consulting for optimisation of its upcoming project-wide economic studies and focused RPM starter mine pre-feasibility study at its Estelle Gold Project in Alaska.
  • Corazon Mining Ltd (ASX:CZN, OTC:CRZNF)’s maiden drilling program at the May Queen copper-gold porphyry target at the Mt Gilmore Project in NSW has intersected altered porphyritic-intrusive rocks and copper sulphides.
  • Strickland Metals Ltd (ASX:STK) has commenced a new phase of drilling targeting shallow mineralisation above previous high-grade gold intercepts at the high-priority Gradina prospect, within its Rogozna Gold and Base Metals Project in Serbia.
  • Suvo Strategic Minerals Ltd (ASX:SUV) recognised growth in revenue of circa A$1 million in the year to June 30, and has implemented a number of initiatives to optimise costs, which the company expects to have further positive impacts on the bottom line in FY25.
  • Kingfisher (LON:KGF) Mining Ltd (ASX:KFM) has completed co-funded diamond drilling at Mick Well, revealing rare earth element (REE) mineralisation and extensive carbonatite related alteration zones. This suggest a larger system at depth than previously identified, in addition to disseminated copper sulphides, quartz veining and multiple pegmatites which will be assayed for base metals, gold and lithium.
  • Read more on Proactive Investors AU

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