Banks, iconic brands fall: Eight-day rally ends in slide for ASX 200

The Australian Securities Exchange slipped last week, after four weeks of steady gains. Share prices of some of the country’s most recognisable brands fell, but it was a better week for miners. Here’s a few of the biggest winners and losers on the ASX 200.

Markets opened in positive territory this morning, reversing the declines of last week after positive international news.

Into this more upbeat market – for those not distracted by the Melbourne Cup – the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will meet tomorrow for its monthly meeting on monetary policy.

While most economists surveyed do not expect another interest rate cut, there have been reports the Australian Government has been presented with a Treasury analysis indicating the RBA may consider unconventional monetary policy as a form of stimulus down the track.

The RBA will offer some clues on its next steps with its monthly statement on monetary policy later in the week. This is also expected to impact consumer sentiment and the sharemarket. 

ASX falls on bank jitters

Last week the ASX 200 reversed its four-week gains to end at 6,669 points. After eight consecutive days of climbing, from Wednesday the market fell daily to end lower for the week.

Amid the release of quarterly results and the ongoing disclosures in a series of annual general meetings, the market decreased in value by 1.04%.

Financial stocks pulled down the market – falling 3.1% overall as a sector. The big four banks contributed – they all fell last week amid announcements flagging caution for the financial year ahead. ANZ (ANZ) suffered the biggest drop of 6.6%, followed by Westpac (WBC) falling by 4%, Commonwealth Bank (CBA) losing 3% and National Australia Bank (NAB), whose share price fell by 2.6%.

ANZ (ANZ) revealed flat cash profits and Macquarie Group (MCG) also lost ground after it  forecast a lower profit result for the year ahead.

Consumer stocks fall: Qantas, Coles and Woolworths also slide

The consumer discretionary sector ended the week 1.78% lower.

On Friday, Qantas’s (QAN) share price was down after it revealed three of its Boeing 737s had hairline cracks.

The consumer staples sector was down 0.9%, amid news Woolworths (WOW) had underpaid thousands of its salaried workers to the value of $300 million over several years.

Wooloworths announced the family-focused Ooshies and Discovery Garden campaigns had helped it increase comparable-store food sales by 6.6% when releasing its first quarter sales results.

Over at Coles (COL), which announced its first quarter sales results the re-run Little Shop promotion did not boost returns significantly (comparable sales were up 0.1% over the quarter).

The utilities sector led the gains, up 2.05%.

Costa and Bega Cheese down

Australia’s biggest avocado and berry producer, Costa Group (CGC), emerged from a trading halt this week to reveal it was downgrading its forecasts again due to drought, and request a round of equity. The market did not like the news and share price fell 22%.

Bega Cheese (BGA) also reported a decline in its forecasts, sparking a 17.5% share price drop overall for the week.

Online lottery company Jumbo Interactive (JIN) and medical supply company Pro Medicus (PME) also fell despite not releasing any news. Commentators suggested that Jumbo shares fell due to investors selling their shares to make a profit after a strong FY2019 performance; and that Pro Medicus was suffering for the news that a rival firm had won a major medical imaging contract in Western Australia. 

Western Areas Ltd (WSA) announced testing had confirmed new nickel-copper deposits at itsMount Alexander mine but the market was not impressed, sending the price down 7.4%.

Lithium miners, fintech up

Lithium miners Pilbara Minerals Ltd (PLS), Galaxy Resources (GXY) and Orocobre Ltd (ORE) all made double-digit gains last week – despite a difficult trading year – with lower supply available internationally.

Gold and copper miner Silver Lake Resources (SLR) gained 15%. It released a strong production update to the market. After the market closed on Friday, it announced it had increased its off-market takeover bid for base metal miner Egan Street Resources (EGA).

Financial technology company Iress Ltd (IRE) also rose by 11.6%, following an announcement it had gained the contract of the Victorian-based Emergency Services and State Super fund, which has $31 billion under management.

Blood products company CSL (CSL) shares continue to rise, up 30% in the last six months, due to a shortage of immunoglobulin, according to commentators. 

Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) is continuing its solid run, up 140% in a year, according to The Motley Fool, due to a rise in the price of iron ore.

Follow Canstar on Facebook and Twitter.