Balanced portfolio – Fortescue Earnings Update (FMG)
Fortescue Earnings Update (FMG)
Pre-Market Pulse 20th February – Stocks drift as Fed suggests prolonged pause in rates
Stocks drifted sideways overnight as the minutes from the Federal Reserve’s January meeting was uneventful, broadly confirming investor expectations for an extended pause on rate cuts.
Balanced portfolio – SELL Corporate Travel Management Limited (CTD)
Sell Corporate Travel Management CTD:ASX
Earnings Update – Corporate Travel Management Limited (CTD)
Corporate Travel Management Limited (CTM) has reported mixed financial results for the first half of 2025 (1H25), demonstrating both growth and challenges across its operating segments. The company has emphasized strong capital management, operational efficiency improvements through automation and AI, and strategic transitions in service provision. Notably, CTM has secured the sole provider status for the UK Government’s Travel Management Consultant (TMC) travel services framework, marking a significant shift from a competitive trio to a singular supplier role. This strategic move is expected to bolster long-term revenue streams and market presence in the Rest of World (RoW) regions.
Pre-Market Pulse 19th February – Stocks squeeze out record highs ahead of Fed update
Stocks squeezed out a record high overnight, marking a positive start to the holiday-shortened week as investors adopted a “wait-and-see” attitude, ahead of the Federal Reserve’s January meeting minutes and upcoming retail earnings reports.
RBA Rate Decision – Feb 2024
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has taken a significant step by lowering its cash rate from 4.35% to 4.10%—its first cut since 2020. This decision marks an important pivot in monetary policy, aimed at supporting economic recovery while keeping inflation in check.
Balanced Portfolio – Sell Challenger (CGF)
Following the earnings release, the stock experienced a sharp 7% sell-off at market open. This pronounced negative reaction indicates that investors are increasingly wary of the sustainability of the reported earnings growth amid evident headwinds.
Earnings Update – BHP Group Limited (BHP)
Challenger exceeded EPS expectations and maintained strong capital and cost control, but asset and liability experience losses, weaker annuity sales, and accounting distortions impacted statutory profits. While structural improvements in capital efficiency and expense management are evident, sales momentum in annuities remains a key challenge going into H2 FY25.
Earnings Update – Challenger Ltd (CGF)
Challenger exceeded EPS expectations and maintained strong capital and cost control, but asset and liability experience losses, weaker annuity sales, and accounting distortions impacted statutory profits. While structural improvements in capital efficiency and expense management are evident, sales momentum in annuities remains a key challenge going into H2 FY25.
Earnings Update – Sell Audinate Group Ltd (AD8)
Audinate Group Limited reported 1H25 earnings that exceeded market expectations, particularly in terms of EPS (-$0.02 vs. -$0.12 expected). However, the company remains in a transitional phase, dealing with ongoing inventory overhang from OEM customers while seeing promising growth in software revenues and product mix shifts.
Pre-Market Pulse 17th February – Stocks weighed down by consumer and inflation concerns
Stock closed just shy of record Friday as data pointing to weakness in the consumer and ongoing inflation concerns weighed upside momentum
Closing Bell 14th February: Heavy Silence for Cochlear
Australian shares experienced an early boost but were trimmed by midday as profit-taking in Commonwealth Bank shares slowed gains. The index, which had risen as much as 0.8%, was up 0.3% at 8,567 points, while the All Ordinaries Index climbed 0.4%.