Pre-Market Report – Monday 16 February: US markets mixed | BEN, JBH, TWE results

It was a modest night of action on Friday as far as Wall Street is concerned. The S&P500 and the Nasdaq were essentially flat while the Russell 2000 outperformed, up 1%. Small caps keep showing more life than the big caps. Inflation data for January increased less than expected thanks to cheap “gas” and moderating housing rents. In the 12 months through to January, the CPI increased 2.4%. The reading was 2.7% in December. The market raised the odds of a June rate cut in response. 9 out of 11 S&P500 sectors were positive. Apple slipped again, down 2%, as was Nvidia. US financials, and the wider chip stocks, were solid but little moved. Gold shares rallied in response to a positive session for bullion.

SPI Futures up 51 points. ASX set to open higher.

Gold rallied a solid 2%, and silver did the same. Oil was steady, no doubt bolstered in part by the news a second US aircraft carrier is heading to the Middle East. Trump is flexing American muscle as Iran talks continue. Industrial metals were weak in London and iron ore is fading as Chinese demand still looks tepid. Copper inventories crossed over 1 million tons for the first time in 20 years. Bitcoin rallied 5% as it tries to form a base after the recent price collapse. Lost some of those gains over the weekend. Another big week of earnings for the ASX coming up.

TWE - BEN - JBH out this morning.

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