ASX Large Caps: CSL, Resmed, and Westpac led gainers; data shows Aussie economy is softening

ASX climbed on Monday, tracking US stocks
CSL, Resmed, and Westpac were the main gainers
RBA expected to hike 25bp tomorrow

The ASX inched back to claim back the 7,000 level, finishing the day 0.25% higher to 6,995.

The local market tracked Wall Street, which gained decisively on Friday after weak employment data in the US (jobless rate rose by 0.1% to 3.9%) bolstered the case for a Fed pause.

Local traders also got the chance to assess the ANZ October job advertisements report today, which showed job ads fell a huge -3% in October following a fall in September of -0.5%.

The Melbourne Institute’s October inflation gauge also showed a decline of -0.1% in October, signalling the local economy has finally lost some steam.

These data have complicated tomorrow’s decision for the RBA, where most economists anticipate a 0.25% hike.

To the ASX, Energy was the only sector in the red today amongst a sea of greens. Energy stocks fell after a steep -2% drop in crude prices on Friday.

Gold miners meanwhile rallied, with the likes of Red 5 (ASX:RED) and De Grey (ASX:DEG) leading the sector.

Across the region, Asian stocks also advanced as investors brought forward their forecasts for Fed Reserve rate reductions next year.

PM Albanese has commenced his official visit to China last Friday night, with China’s premier Li Qiang asserting that China will ‘share development opportunities’ with Australia, ‘no matter how the world changes’.

BIG CAP WINNERS

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Code Name Price % Change Volume Market Cap GNE Genesis Energy Ltd 2.35 8.29 14,154 $2,331,969,410 RED Red 5 Limited 0.33 8.20 13,746,806 $1,055,967,721 DEG De Grey Mining 1.22 6.55 4,027,164 $2,059,964,202 SNZ Summerset Grp Hldgs 9.47 6.40 262 $2,085,104,300 GMD Genesis Minerals 1.53 5.71 2,185,715 $1,551,636,171 LOV Lovisa Holdings Ltd 19.52 5.63 210,776 $2,027,119,969 CTT Cettire 2.97 4.95 948,770 $1,078,904,163 MEZ Meridian Energy 4.70 4.91 25,620 $5,673,358,069 EVN Evolution Mining Ltd 3.68 4.70 7,769,358 $6,448,515,377 HGH Heartland Group 1.48 4.59 1,981 $1,012,100,357 PRU Perseus Mining Ltd 1.77 4.59 4,426,830 $2,321,323,086 SGR The Star Ent Grp 0.59 4.46 6,525,361 $1,606,461,291 LFS Latitude Group 1.18 4.42 36,534 $1,174,834,607 BGL Bellevue Gold Ltd 1.43 4.40 12,443,557 $1,568,392,598 CMM Capricorn Metals 4.78 4.14 1,102,701 $1,725,648,023 NEU Neuren Pharmaceut. 12.74 4.00 753,872 $1,550,429,531 RRL Regis Resources 1.82 4.00 3,890,401 $1,321,842,914 EMR Emerald Res NL 2.64 3.94 1,920,343 $1,579,082,592

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Healthcare was the best performing ASX sector today, buoyed by CSL (ASX:CSL) which rose almost 2% on no specific news.

CSL’s shares might have risen after the AFR published a story that legendary Australian investor Chris Kourtis is bullish on CSL and Resmed (ASX; RMD) following the recent Wegovy-driven selloff. RMS shares also picked up 3% today.

Westpac (ASX:WBC) rose 3% after reporting a 26% jump in uts full-year net profit to $7.2 billion, The bank also improved its final dividend payout to 72¢, while also announcing plans for a $1.5 billion on-market share buyback to reflect its strong balance sheet.

Origin Energy (ASX:ORG) rose almost 1% after AusSuper increased its stake in the company to 15.03% from 13.7% last week.

BIG CAP LOSERS

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Code Name Price % Change Volume Market Cap DYL Deep Yellow Limited 1.20 -9.43 5,941,307 $1,004,905,131 SQ2 Block 75.86 -6.55 410,858 $2,742,416,022 BOE Boss Energy Ltd 4.32 -5.37 1,483,440 $1,609,377,052 PDN Paladin Energy Ltd 0.96 -4.48 13,588,820 $2,998,292,411 BFL Bsp Financial Group 5.12 -3.58 3,069 $2,480,938,088 AD8 Audinate Group Ltd 12.78 -3.37 108,736 $1,098,698,812 CPU Computershare Ltd 24.39 -2.94 763,823 $15,171,718,214 LYC Lynas Rare Earths 7.00 -2.91 3,512,656 $6,732,809,589 SFR Sandfire Resources 6.18 -2.68 748,231 $2,901,901,765 MAD Mader Group Limited 6.65 -2.64 87,158 $1,366,000,000 KAR Karoon Energy Ltd 2.46 -2.58 924,934 $1,427,630,423 SMR Stanmore Resources 3.79 -2.57 453,126 $3,506,413,456 S32 South32 Limited 3.25 -2.26 13,269,108 $15,037,138,446 WHC Whitehaven Coal 7.00 -2.17 5,182,832 $5,981,695,606 NHC New Hope Corporation 5.32 -2.03 2,517,143 $4,590,171,570 CRN Coronado Global Res 1.72 -1.99 2,021,270 $2,942,176,296 CIA Champion Iron Ltd 7.68 -1.92 1,397,755 $4,050,425,605

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Block Inc (ASX:SQ2) fell 6% despite its NYSE-listed parent shares surging by 10% on Friday after raising its full year profit guidance.

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