Home / Daily Market Update / Markets suffer worst drop since pandemic began, ASX enters correction, Polynovo a rare winner

Markets suffer worst drop since pandemic began, ASX enters correction, Polynovo a rare winner

Daily Market Update

Anyone keeping up with the news overnight is aware of the headlines. $88 billion lost in a single day, market crumbles, stocks tank; there will be no lack of hyperbole following the worst day for the S&P/ASX200 since March 2020.

The market fell by close to 5 per cent during the session, following a rough session on Wall Street, but ultimately finished down 3.6 per cent.

Every sector of the market was lower, with even 2022’s top performers in energy and materials falling 4.9 and 4.4 per cent respectively.

Technology fell 4.4 per cent, with utilities, staples and communications ‘outperforming’ by losing less than 2 per cent.

Iron ore prices added to concerns over higher interest rates in the US, with the price hitting US$133 and sending Fortescue (ASX: FMG) down 8.7 and BHP (ASX: BHP) 5.6 per cent.

Only nine stocks managed to finish higher, with six finishing unchanged; Computershare (ASX: CPU) was a rare winner gaining 1.6 per cent.

All the volatility essentially comes down to the higher cost of capital as interest rates rise and the growing risk of a recession should central banks pull the cash rate lever too hard.
 
Bond yield hits 4 per cent, US dollar surges, rough day to report
 
Of particular interest to investors was the fact that the Australian Government 10-year bond yield surged to over 4 per cent during the session, a massive increase from the 1.2 per cent reached during 2021.

The market is essentially suggesting that the central bank will raise the cash rate beyond 3 per cent, potentially sending mortgage rates to 6 per cent and likely putting pressure on both the housing sector and jobs market.

The immediate impact has been on technology valuations, with both Zip Co (ASX: ZIP) and Block (ASX: SQ2) falling by more than 15 per cent once again, along with uranium-developed Paladin (ASX: PDN) which fell another 10 per cent.

The S&P/ASX200 has now breached the 10 per cent fall called a ‘correction’ with the S&P500 down more than 20 per cent from its January high.

Shares in Viva Leisure (ASX: VVA) fell by 7 per cent despite reaffirming guidance for both earnings and revenue in FY22 with the gym operator seeing a jump in subscriptions.

SkyCity (ASX: SKC) in New Zealand also confirmed its guidance, flagging earnings of around $135 to $140 million
 
Global selloff slows, producer inflation increases, Oracle beats
 
The global selloff appeared to slow overnight, with most benchmarks trading higher throughout the session but ultimately tipping into negative territory.

The S&P500 fell 0.4 per cent and the Dow Jones 0.5, however, the Nasdaq was boosted by a strong result from Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) gaining 0.2 per cent.

The four-day drop of 9.9 per cent in the S&P500 is nearly unmatched in history, equalling the March 2020 fall.

Markets are concerned that the Federal Reserve may opt to increase the cash rate by 0.75 per cent at the next opportunity adding to the risk of recession, with a 0.8 per cent increase in producer prices evidencing the overly sticky nature of current inflation.

Oracle was a standout, with the database giant gaining more than 10 per cent after beating earnings and revenue forecasts.

Management reported a 10 per cent increase in top-line sales revenue, fuelled by the cloud, which was the fastest growth in more than a decade.

Keeping focused on individual company performance during selloffs will remain key to long-term success.




Print Article

Related
Industrials, property push ASX lower, RBA hikes again, Woolworths guides to higher sales

The local market fell sharply on the back of an unexpected 0.25 per cent interest rate increase by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The news took the cash rate to 3.85 per cent, adding more pressure to household balance sheets and came despite most experts suggesting hikes had come to an end. The hardest hit…

Drew Meredith | 3rd May 2023 | More
ASX boosted by the energy sector, Origin upgrades outlook, Best & Less gets a bid

The local sharemarket finished 0.4 per cent higher on Monday, buoyed by the energy and utilities sectors, which gained 1.3 and 1 per cent, despite the oil price continuing to fall. The sector was buoyed by an earnings upgrade from Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) which sent shares 0.5 per cent higher with AGL Energy (ASX:AGL) also…

Drew Meredith | 2nd May 2023 | More
Upbeat start to week – and month – likely for Aussie market

After a strong session for global markets on Friday, Australian shares will take a positive lead into the new week – and month. The Australian benchmark index, the S&P/ASX 200, added 16.5 points, or 0.2 per cent, on Friday, to 7,309.2, but eased 53 points, or 0.7 per cent over the week. ASX futures trading…

James Dunn | 1st May 2023 | More
Popular