End of Day Report – Thursday 8 May: ASX finishes up 13 points | Trump to meet with UK PM

The ASX 200 closed with a gain of 13 points (+0.16%) after clawing back early losses as Trump teased a trade deal. Expected to be with the UK. Sterling and Aussie dollar rose on the news. Futures also jumped. Dow futures up 0.4%, Nasdaq futures up 0.9%. Most sectors in the green for the ASX 200. Financials, Healthcare and Consumer Discretionary exceptions. ANZ fell 1.9% after disappointing earnings. WBC down 4.1% after it went ex-dividend. Fell more than dividend. CBA down 0.3%, results next Tuesday. NAB bucked the trend and rose 1.4%. Gold miners led the rally. NST up 2.4% and EVN up 2.0%. Utilities and Industrials also did well. Defensive stocks popular after Powell’s hawkish tone. Industrials helped by CPU (+3.1%). No clear reason for rise. AGL rose 2.2%, COL gained 1.1%. Resources mixed. Lithium, Copper down, Coal up. Iron ore miners flat to down. BHP flat, RIO up 0.1%, FMG down 0.7%. ORI rose 7.4% after a 40% profit lift to $250.8m and a dividend boost. GYG rose 3.3% after saying it will beat full-year profit forecasts and expand in the US.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.