When Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers hands down the budget on 14 May, the pressing need for fiscal responsibility is likely to trump spending programs.
In an era of fake news, it’s getting more difficult to separate fact from fiction. Yet it’s imperative we do so because the consequences for being deceived can be enormous.
ASX recovers to flat as Sydney lockdown smashes travel
ASX fights back, COVID winners back as lockdowns extended, oil at three-year high
The ASX 200 (ASX: XJO) overcame a negative lead to finished broadly flat on Monday.
COVID-19 outbreaks in almost every state barring Victoria have sent the market back into the realm of 2020’s top trades.
On the one hand, travel and tourism-facing stocks suffered, with Qantas Airways Limited (ASX: QAN) falling 4.0% and Flight Centre Travel Group Ltd (ASX: FLT) down 3.4%.
On the other hand, COVID-19 beneficiaries including online furniture retailer Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) and Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) jumped 10.2% and 6.6%, respectively. This is clearly sentiment driven with both having fallen heavily as comparable sales figures came into focus.
On the more sustainable side, Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) and Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) continue to gain, up 1.3% and 2.9% respectively, with staples like groceries likely to sustain beyond the short-term.
ASX coal miners were hit hard by a Chinese spokesperson suggesting that the supply crunch of the commodity in China was set to ease.
The announcement highlighted the growth of renewable energy in the country along with the increase in domestic production as key reasons behind the expected price reduction.
Oil rises, Metcash delivers, another gold miner disappoints
The oil price hit a three-year high overnight as a lack of investment in supply combines with an expected recovery in demand.
Despite the jump, Santos Ltd (ASX: STO) finished just 0.7% higher and remains below 2020’s high.
Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC) shares fell 1.6% after settling the institutional portion of its placement, whilst junior gold miner Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR) fell 7.4%.
The miner downgraded production guidance due to disruptions at its processing plant, sending its costs higher and once again proving the poor hedge that miners can be.
Metcash Limited (ASX: MTS) was the standout of the day, delivering a 40% increase in the dividend after a record year.
The company reported a 9.9% increase in revenue to $14.3 billion and a 27% increase in profit to $252 million as the pandemic pulls it out of a decade-long malaise.
Alcohol and hardware sales were the key contributor, with earnings up 22% and 62% in these divisions, and supported the purchase of another 15% of Total Tools for $59.4 million.
The final dividend was 9 cents per share, taking the full-year payout to 17.5 cents but sending the share price just 0.8% higher.
Tech takes the mantle, another trillion dollar winner, Facebook avoids court
US markets were positive overnight, with the technology sector gaining 1% as the reflation trade peters out.
The S&P 500 added 0.2% but the Dow Jones fell 0.4% after a number of countries around Europe and Asia banned British travellers amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country despite their solid level of vaccination. Cruise operators and airlines both sank on the news.
Facebook Inc (NYSE: FB) was the news of the day, with the share price jumping 4.2% and becoming the third company to reach a market cap of US$1 trillion.
The surge came as the company had anti-monopoly cases against them dropped in the US, ensuring their dominance of ads is set to continue.
The US markets are nearing one of their best half years in history with just three days of trade remaining, with the S&P and Nasdaq having hit 32 and 18 new records this year alone.
