End of Day Report – Friday 8 August: ASX 200 slips 24, up 1.7% for the week | Gold shines, banks down

ASX 200 fell 24 points to 8807 (0.3%) to be up 1.7% for the week. Not too shabby. As usual it was the perennial war between banks and resources. Banks down with CBA slipping %, results next week and the Big Bank Basket down to $279.64 (-0.8%). Insurers walloped, QBE down 8.8% on poor results. SUN off 3.2% and IAG sliding 2.7%. Other financials falling hard too GQG down 14.6% on FUM levels falling and performance lagging, HUB dropped 2.0% and PNI took a break, down 5.3%. REITs flat, healthcare slid, CSL running into reality, down 1.8% and PME falling 3.6% as TLX continued to drift lower. Industrials too fell, REA down 1.1% and ALL off 1.8% with LNW falling 11.2% on plans to delist from Nasdaq. Tech fell, XRO down 1.4% and 360 dropping 4.2% with the All Tech Index down 0.7%.Resources were bid, Iron ore a lithium together with gold miners in the green. BHP up 0.9% with FMG rising 1.8%. NST bounced another 4.0% with NEM cruising 2.2% higher, LYC jumped 3.8% and PLS up 9.0%, buyers cover shorts as lithium pricing recovered. LTR returned from a mega upsized raise of $316m with the Chinese taking a slice and the Australian government, the stock unchanged. Coal stocks better, NHC up 2.5% and WHC rising 3.1%. Uranium stocks slightly firmer. PBH up 4.6% as its board recommended Mixi’s offer.In corporate news, IRE bounced 12.2% on takeover approach from Blackstone at 1050c, QBE massacred, XYZ showed a clean pair of heels on a good result, NCK too better by 6.9% on numbers.Nothing on the economic front locally. Asian markets mixed, Japan up 1.7% to new highs. China modestly lower and HK falling 1.0%.Want to invest with Marcus Today? The Managed Strategy Portfolio is designed for investors seeking exposure to our strategy while we do the hard work for you. If you’re looking for personal financial advice, our friends at Clime Investment Management can help. Their team of licensed advisers operates across most states, offering tailored financial planning services.  Why not sign up for a free trial? Gain access to expert insights, research, and analysis to become a better investor.