Daily Market Update: 16 September 2025

Down day for local market

The Australian sharemarket slipped marginally on Monday, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO)losing 11.9 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 8,853 points, extending last week’s losses. Four of the 11 sectors lost ground. The broader All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) eased 7.8 points, less than 0.1 per cent, to 9,120.9.

Among the big four banks, the focus was on ANZ Group Holdings Limited (ASX: ANZ), which was hit by a record $240 million penalty from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for ripping-off customers and government. It was a muted reaction from the share market, though, with ANZ sliding just 20 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $32.99; Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) fell $1.07, also 0.6 per cent, to $168.90; while Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) gained 25 cents, or 0.7 per cent, to $38.73; and National Australia Bank Limited (ASX: NAB) advanced 25 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $43.79.

Lithium leverages market

In the big miners, BHP Group Limited (ASX: BHP) retreated 23 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $40.58; Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO) fell 13 cents, or 0.1 per cent, to $115.31; but Fortescue Limited (ASX: FMG) put on 11 cents, or 0.6 per cent, to $18.91. Gold miners weighed the market down, as investors took profits accrued from gold’s retreat from record highs: the Australian producers have tracked the yellow metal’s rise. Regis Resources Limited (ASX: RRL)weakened by 24 cents, or 4.1 per cent, to $5.56; Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST) gave up 40 cents, or 1.9 per cent, to $20.80; Perseus Mining Limited (ASX: PRU) lost 15 cents, or 3.4 per cent, to $4.20; Evolution Mining Limited (ASX: EVN) gave up 52 cents, or 5.3 per cent, to $9.38; and Ora Banda Mining Limited (ASX: OBM) plunged 11.5 cents, or 10 per cent, to $1.04. Gold’s worries did not seep into the lithium sector, where Pilbara Minerals Limited (ASX: PLS) surged 18 cents, or 9.1 per cent, to $2.16; Liontown Resources Limited (ASX: LTR)elevated 5 cents, or 6.3 per cent, to 84.5 cents; IGO Limited (ASX: IGO), which mines lithium and nickel, firmed 29 cents, or 6.7 per cent, to $4.63; and Mineral Resources Limited (ASX: MIN), which mines iron ore and lithium, gained $1.21, or 3.2 per cent, to $38.66. Mining services provider Emeco Holdings Limited (ASX: EHL) surged 8.5 cents, or 7.9 per cent, to $1.165, as the market sniffs a takeover. Emeco is up 60 per cent in the last six months; it has been reported that a US-based industry player is doing the numbers on the company.

Healthcare stocks were largely under pressure, with index heavyweight CSL Limited (ASX: CSL) down $3.34, or 1.6 per cent, to $204.48; medical imaging group Pro Medicus Limited (ASX: PME) off $4.31, or 1.4 per cent, to $294.14; and sleep apnoea treatment provider ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD) softening 57 cents, or 1.4 per cent, but hearing implants maker Cochlear Limited (ASX: COH) did not get the memo, gaining $2.93, or 1 per cent, to $302.72. Elsewhere, logistics software company WiseTech Global Limited (ASX: WTC) rose $2.71, or 2.9 per cent, to $97.64, as investors disregarded founder and executive chairman Richard White’s sale of more than $120 million of shares in the company.

Records topple on Wall Street

In the US, it was a banner day on the stock market, with both the S&P 500 Index (NYSEARCA: SPY) and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: IXIC) notching all-time closing highs, with the former closing above 6,600 points for the first time. The S&P 500 added 30.99 points, or 0.5 per cent, to 6,615.28, while the Nasdaq Composite pushed 207.65 points higher, up 0.9 per cent to 22,348.75. The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSEARCA: DIA) was more muted, advancing 49.23 points, or 0.1 per cent, to 45,883.45.

Markets appeared to be boosted by President Trump’s positive comments on China trade negotiations, which are also discussing the sale of Chinese-owned social medium TikTok. Treasury Secretary Bessent indicated that Presidents Trump and Xi would finalise the deal on Friday.

Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) shares jumped 3 per cent after CEO Elon Musk reported an insider purchase of the stock, his largest-ever buy in the open market and his first significant purchase since 2020. Traders took the transaction as a vote of confidence by Musk in the company, which is attempting to turn its focus towards robotics as electric vehicle competition has intensified.