Table of Contents
Market Summary for 28 July 2025
Market Overview
The S&P/ASX 200 index witnessed a positive close, finishing 30.8 points up, an increase of 0.36%. This gain can be partly attributed to favourable developments in Europe, notably a trade agreement between the European Union and the Trump administration, which mitigated uncertainties affecting market confidence.
On the day, defensive sectors such as Telecommunications (+1.1%), Financials (+0.9%), Healthcare (+0.83%), and Consumer Discretionary (+0.77%) showed significant gains. However, resource sectors faced challenges, with Major Resources and Energy sectors declining by 1.3% and 1.4%, respectively, influenced by lower prices in iron ore, lithium, and uranium.
Today’s Market Performance
-
Major Indices: Index Value % Change ASX 200 8,697.7 +0.36% All Ords 8,963.5 +0.33% Small Ords 3,345.3 -0.30% All Tech 4,232.5 +1.00% Emerging Companies 2,412.3 -0.61% -
Currency: Pair Value % Change AUD/USD 0.655 -0.25% -
US Futures: Index Value % Change S&P 500 6,453.25 +0.44% Dow Jones 45,252.0 +0.37% Nasdaq 23,566.75 +0.62%
Sector Performances
-
Gainers:
- Communication Services: +1.06%
- Financials: +0.89%
- Healthcare: +0.83%
- Industrials: +0.79%
- Consumer Discretionary: +0.77%
- Losers:
- Utilities: -0.80%
- Materials: -1.03%
- Energy: -1.42%
Market Insights and Key Developments
The day’s market activity highlighted a shift back towards defensive positions as investors sought stability amidst fluctuating resource prices. Notably, lithium trading faced severe circumstances in China where prices plummeted to a limit down.
Despite the dip in resources, analysts observed that liquidity remained within the Australian market, hinting at ongoing confidence among large funds. A technical analysis of key indices like the Nasdaq and the S&P/ASX 200 shows that both indices are maintaining upward trends.
Company Movements and Highlights
-
Runners:
- Helloworld Travel (HLO): +14.1% following a positive guidance update.
- Vection Technologies (VR1): +12.8%.
- Imugene (IMU): +9.3% as it rebounded from past sell-offs.
- Decliners:
- Boss Energy (BOE): -44% after bad FY26 guidance.
- Australian Strategic Materials (ASM): -18.1%.
Broker Moves
Several companies received renewed ratings from analysts, including:
- A2 Milk Company (A2M): Retained at outperform; Target revised to $8.30.
- Boss Energy (BOE): Downgraded to underweight; Target set at $3.25.
Economic Calendar – Upcoming Data Releases
Wednesday:
- USA JOLTS Job Openings
- Consumer Confidence
- Australia CPI data
Thursday:
- USA Federal Funds Rate Announcement
- Australia Retail Sales and Building Approvals data
Friday:
- USA Non-Farm Payrolls and Employment Change figures.
Conclusion
The ASX 200’s performance showcased resilience in uncertain markets, led by strong sectors while also reflecting challenges in resource-based industries. The upcoming economic data releases are anticipated with keen interest, potentially influencing future market movements. The overall sentiment appears cautiously optimistic with an ongoing preference for defensive stocks amidst the current economic landscape.
