End of Day Report – Wednesday 1 October: ASX 200 falls 3 points | BHP down 2.5% on China halt

The ASX 200 slid a mere 3 points to 8846 as the US government shutdown weighed on sentiment. BHP under pressure from the off on news of a halt to iron ore sales in China, falling 2.5% with RIO up 0.5% and FMG doing well, up 1.4%. Lithium stocks under pressure on CATL news of a reopening, MIN fell 3.8%, LTR off 10.7% and PLS falling 6.4%. Copper stocks mixed, SFR up 1.6% and gold miners mostly firm, new record highs for bullion. NST up 0.8%, GMD up 0.7% and WGX rising 10.7% on its 3-year plan. Uranium eased and oil and gas mixed, STO up 0.5%. Banks eased back slightly, CBA up 0.1% with the Big Bank Basket down to $283.09 (-0.1%). Financials found some friends, SOL up 5.4% and MPL rising 0.6%. Healthcare better, CSL up 0.3% and RMD rising 0.8%. Industrials mixed, BXB up 1.3% with TLS rebounding 0.6%. Retail stocks eased a little, tech mixed, WTC up 0.6% and XRO up 0.6%. In corporate news, BVS soared 18.2% on guidance improving. APE in a trading halt pending a capital raise and a Canadian acquisition. ASB jumped 5.8% on a US Naval agreement.On the economic front, nothing locally. Asian markets muted as China National Day takes precedence. Japan down 1%.10-year yields drifted higher to 4.35%. US Futures down 0.5% on shutdown.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.