ASX 200: Banks bounce back but miners, Afterpay suffer despite week of trading gold

This week is predicted to be a rocky one for the sharemarket, after a week of gains last week that saw some big banks bounce back.

Global events are expected to again contribute to Australian market values this week, with the international ructions between the US and China continuing to play out, the US reporting season underway, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson again attempting to persuade his parliamentary colleagues to back his EU Brexit deal. In Australia, more data on our labour force, manufacturing and the quarterly annual national accounts will also have an impact on the markets.

It follows a positive week which saw the S&P/ASX200 – the value of the top 200 companies on the Australian exchange – increasing by 0.66%, gaining for the second week in a row. The index ended the week at 6,650 points, still 225 points off its record high of 6875.5, set in July.

Last week’s major Australian economic news – the surprise fall in the official unemployment figure to 5.2% – reduced expectations of an imminent cash rate cut. This in turn led investors to sell.

What happened on the ASX last week? 

Energy and healthcare shares were up

Energy and health care companies recorded the highest gains on the ASX last week (2.67% and 2.12% respectively). Health was boosted by biotechnology giant CSL (CSL), whose share price rose 2.6% to $250.97, creating the biggest jump in market capitalisation in the market.

Rises for big banks National Australia Bank (NAB), Macquarie Group (MCG) and the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) also lifted the overall market, contributing to a 1.69% increase in the financials sector.

Mining and materials stocks were down

The materials sector brought down the market, falling 2.68% as big-cap shares BHP Group (BHP), Newcrest Mining (NCM), and Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) slumped by 2.9%, 6% and 5.9% over the week. These generated the top three market losses.

The IT sector stocks declined by 1.03%.

Mapping a rise in the market

Aerial mapping and data company Nearmap Ltd (NEA) was the week’s biggest winner, bolting 17.1% higher to close the week at $2.95 after it released its annual report mapping the potential of the huge international market for its products and services. It has had a bumper year amid eager forecasts for the US market, but remains well down on its record high of $4.29, set in June.

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— Nearmap (@nearmap) September 2, 2019

The value of financial services company IOOF (IFL) increased by 16.6% to $7.30, after it announced it would pay $125 million less than anticipated for ANZ’s pensions and investment business, OnePath. And legal clouds cleared when regulator APRA said last week it would not appeal a Federal Court judgement clearing five IOOF executives and directors of breaching superannuation laws in the wake of the Banking Royal Commission.

UK bank company CYBG (CYB) rose by 14.4% amid the news of a possible Brexit deal, while investment management company Challenger (CGF) gained 13.3%. 

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation (FPH) rose 10% after announcing it can now sell its Vitera sleep apnea mask on the US market, as well as lifting its revenue expectations.

But it wasn’t all good news

Market darling Afterpay Touch’s (APT) rise was dampened last week, with a gloomy broker report and the Reserve Bank raising regulatory issues over fees. Stocks in the buy-now pay-later company suffered a large decline of 15.6% as a result.

The announcement of a weak advertising market left investors selling out of Triple M and Hit radio station owner Southern Cross Media (SXL), whose share price dropped 22.7% to $0.89. It will also purchase a West Australian radio network, it was revealed last week.

Meanwhile, gold miner Northern Star (NST) fell 14.3% following a disappointing quarterly update, Clinuvel Pharmaceut (CUV) dropped 13.5% and Wisetech Global Ltd (WTC) lost 12.3%.

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