ASX 200 afternoon report: 21st of February 2023
Find out all the latest information on the ASX 200 market. Updated as of 21st February 3.30 pm Sydney time.
It’s been a roller coaster ride on the ASX 200 today, which in early trading, fell to a five-week low at 7297 before embarking on a 40-point recovery in the afternoon session.
Mining sector
The recovery was led by the big miners as the price of iron ore futures in Asia climbed above $131 per tonne following an upgrade by a US investment bank.
- Mineral Resources added 4.59% to $85.61
- Fortescue added 2.83% to $23.23
- Rio Tinto added 1.44% to $126.95
- BHP fell 0.14% to $48.39 after trading to a low of $47.11 on an earnings miss.
Consumer-facing stocks
The release of the RBA meeting minutes, which reiterated the hawkish tone of the February Board Meeting, heaped more pain on consumer-facing stocks.
- A2M fell 5.16% to $6.16, extending falls after yesterday’s earning miss
- Endeavour Group fell 2.54% to $6.71
- Coles fell 1.6% to $18.01 despite its stronger-than-expected earnings report
- Blackmores fell 1.55% to $84.20
- Altium fell 6.84% to $27.27 after reporting mixed earnings yesterday afternoon
- Sezzle fell 1.72% to $0.57c
- Computershare fell 1.37% to $23.78
- Seek fell 1.13% to $24.05.
Real estate sector
The real estate sector has fallen, led by a 3.6% fall in Stockland Group after its earnings results were impacted by wet weather and interest rate rise uncertainty—a similar story to the one we have had from other developers this earnings season. Lend Lease fell 1.86% to $7.64, and Goodman Group fell 1.7% to $19.47.
Financial sector
The bargain hunters who bravely stuck their hands up yesterday to buy banking stocks after last week's sharp falls were nowhere to be seen today.
- Westpac fell 1.04% to $22.77
- NAB fell 0.83% to $30.05
- ANZ fell 0.7% to $24.57
- CBA, which trades ex-dividend on Wednesday, fell 0.6% to $101.64.
Lithium sector
A better day for Lithium miners as Pilbara Resources snapped its four-day losing streak adding 4.76% to $4.40.
- Core Lithium surged 5.43% to $4.40
- Liontown Resources added 4.26% to $1.35
- Lake Resources added 4% to $0.64c.
Technical analysis
In late January, we shifted from a bullish view of the ASX 200 and suggested cutting longs ahead of the bull market 7632 high. Our target for the current pullback is the 7200/7000 support area, coming from the uptrend support from the October 6411 low and the 200-day moving average.
ASX 200 daily chart
This information has been prepared by IG, a trading name of IG Australia Pty Ltd. In addition to the disclaimer below, the material on this page does not contain a record of our trading prices, or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instrument. IG accepts no responsibility for any use that may be made of these comments and for any consequences that result. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk. Any research provided does not have regard to the specific investment objectives, financial situation and needs of any specific person who may receive it. It has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such is considered to be a marketing communication. Although we are not specifically constrained from dealing ahead of our recommendations we do not seek to take advantage of them before they are provided to our clients.
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