End of Day Report - Wed 22 Dec

Market Updates

• The ASX 200 meanders to 10 points gain to close at 7365 (0.13%). Volumes are drying up as we head into Xmas. Banks under a little pressure with the Big Bank Basket unchanged at $176.62. MFG still under pressure, down 3.1% but volatility diminishes. CHC has taken out 50% of Paradice making valuations interesting. CHC down 7.5% on the news. REITS slipped lower as GPT down 1.3% and MGR down 0.7%. Healthcare mixed, CSL, a standout again, up 1.2% and EBO up 4.2% and RMD up 1.4%.
• Industrials mixed, WOW and COL eased around 0.7%, ALL rose 1.1%, DMP steadied, and travel stocks pushed higher FLT up 2.1% on Omicron news. Tech stocks better led by APT up 5.4% and XRO rallying 2% with the All-Tech Index up 2%.
• Big iron ore miners pulled back, RIO down 2.0% after a South American lithium acquisition, BHP off 0.8% and FMG falling 1.8%. Gold miners fell and lithium stocks saw gains after a broker upgrade on commodity prices.
• In corporate news, LNK had a bid at 550c rising 15.0%, CHC bought 50% of Paradise, no paving and STP fell 34.9 % on a trading downdate. PPS rose 2.1% after selling its troubled international assets to Morningstar. Nothing on the economic front. Asia markets modestly weaker and 10-year yields back up to 1.60%

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