1 October we become SureStone CapitalSame team, same ABN. Our website and email addresses move to surestone.com.au.
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The local sharemarket ended the week on a high, with the S&P/ASX 200 closing 0.1% higher at 8976.8 points and posting its fourth consecutive monthly gain.
The rally followed a tech-led lift on Wall Street, after Microsoft earnings eased concerns around the scale of AI infrastructure spending.
Materials provided support, up 1.3% with BHP and Rio Tinto gaining. Gold miners also climbed alongside bullion, led by Genesis Minerals and Evolution Mining.
Back home, tech bucked the global trend, with WiseTech Global falling over 4% and Xero also weaker. Adding to the woes was healthcare, the biggest drag, down 2%, as CSL and ResMed weighed on the index.
Among individual movers, Fortescue fell 1.9% after flagging a $747 million after-tax impairment on its Iron Bridge magnetite project.
On the other hand, Ora Banda surged over 8% after drilling extended its newly discovered Sapphire Iodes at the Little Gem prospect across more than 2.6 kilometres of strike.
Jeweller Michael Hill jumped 4.5% after forecasting FY26 comparable EBIT growth of 44% to 57%. Pepper Money advanced 5.7% after securing a servicing role for HSBC’s Australian home loan and personal loan portfolio.
Next week, local earnings season kicks off, with REA Group, AMP and ResMed among the companies set to report. OPEC+ meets on Sunday, while US earnings season continues with SpaceX among those in focus. In Europe, eurozone retail sales will be the key data release.
