The ASX 200 fell 7 points to 8786 for the fourth straight day. It fought back from earlier losses, as banks steadied and traders squared up before another crucial weekend. The Big Bank Basket back up to $289.81 (+0.3%). Other financials saw some buyers return, SUN up 4.5% as it reaffirmed guidance, MQG jumped 0.7% and MPL also fighting back, up 1.8%. REITs were mixed, GMG fell 0.6% with healthcare finding some buyers to square up after a torrid week. CSL rose 0.8% and COH turned around early losses to close up 2.5%. Still a week to forget. Tech mixed, XRO up 0.3% and REA down 1.5%. Utilities firmed, ORG up 2.6% and APA doing well. Retail fell, APE off 2.5% and TPW falling 3.3%.

Resources were patchy. BHP flat, RIO dropped 0.2% and FMG disappointed falling 5.7% on quarterly. Gold miners too under pressure as oil trundles higher. EVN down 2.2% and NST off 3.5%. Oil and gas stocks pushed ahead, WDS up 2.6% and STO up 1.0%. Uranium stocks saw profit-taking. PDN down 2.6% and BMN falling back a little.

In corporate news, plenty of quarterlies, IGO smacked 17.9% on disappointment on spodumene production at Greenbushes. NXL jumped 15.0% on a court ruling with ASIC’s case dismissed, PLS up 1.6% after a good quarterly number. VUL jumped 3.1% after construction kicked off at Lionheart.

Nothing on the economic front. Oil up for five days in a row. 10-year yields ease to 4.98%

Asian markets mixed, Japan up 0.1%, China down 0.2% and HK up 0.2%. Oil up 1.3% in Asian trade

US Futures ease, Nasdaq up 157 (Intel), Dow down 67. Europe is opening down again, off around 2% this week. Similar to ASX 200, down 1.8% this week.

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