Tuesday 16th December 2025
Daily Market Update: 17 December 2025
ASX (ASX:XJO) selloff continues, technology sinks as Life360 (ASX:360) hits three month low, energy down on Russia-Ukraine negotiations
The local market continued to sell off strongly, with the index losing 0.5 per cent on Tuesday, making it a tough end to the quarter. The only sector to finish higher was industrials, as popular trading stock Droneshielf (ASX:DRO) gained more than 20 per cent after announcing a $49 million contract to supply a key defence customer. The energy sector sold off heavily, falling 2.2 per cent, as both Santos (ASX:STO) and Woodside (ASX:WDS) fell amid hopes of a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia which would impact oil prices and bring Russian supply back onto the market. Popular tech stock Life 360 (ASX:360) which tracks the movement of family members hit a five month low, falling more than 5 per cent for the session.
NAB, CBA tip rate hikes in 2026, property sinks pushing Vicinity (ASX:VCX) lower, Orica (ASX:ORI) surges on potential upgrade
Hopes of more rate hikes have taken a hit, with both the National Australia Bank and Commonwealth Bankeconomists now predicting at least one, if not two rate hikes to occur early in 2026 amid persistent inflation. This hit the property sector, with shopping centre owner Vicinity (ASX:VCX) and Scentre (ASX:SCG) falling 1 per cent respectively. Shares in explosives maker Orica (ASX:ORI) posted a near 3 per cent gain aftr the company flagged a stronger than expected start to the 2026 financial year. Similarly, real estate listings platform REA Group (ASX:REA)fell close to 2 per cent following news that Google would look to display real estate ads directly.
S&P500 down for third straight day, messy jobs report points to more cuts, Tesla (NYSE:TSLA) rallies on European production
The S&P500 fell for a third straight day, down 0.6 per cent, as a messy jobs report in the US offered little confidence in the direction of rates, and the economy in 2026. Payrolls increased by 64,000 after a significant correction in the prior month, while unemployment increased to 4.6 per cent, the highest since 2021, with most pointing to the prospect of more supportive rate cuts in the new year. The Nasdaq rallied, despite broader weakness, with Tesla (NYSE:TSLA) gaining more than 2 per cent after the company announced plans to launch a battery cell production plan in Germany in 2027. Visa (NYSE:V) was flat despite the company flagging plans to allow stablecoin settlement, while drug producer Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) fell by nearly 4 per cent after the company forecast little to no growth in sales next year as its pipeline of new drugs starts to slow.
| Australian Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| ASX 200 | -0.5 | 0.6 | 0.1 | -2.3 | 7.2 |
| Financials | -0.2 | 1.4 | -0.8 | -4.2 | 7.0 |
| Resources | -0.8 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 12.6 | 30.0 |
| Information Technology | -1.8 | -4.5 | -6.6 | -21.0 | -12.7 |
| Global Indices | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| US 500 | -0.2 | -0.4 | -0.3 | 3.9 | 8.7 |
| Europe | 0.2 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 23.6 |
| Japan | -1.0 | 2.3 | -0.4 | 4.9 | 20.3 |
| China top 50 | -2.4 | 0.1 | -5.3 | -3.9 | 24.4 |
| India top 50 | 0.0 | -0.4 | -3.3 | 0.1 | -5.1 |
| Fixed Interest | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Australian Treasury Bond | -0.1 | 0.3 | -1.1 | -1.8 | 2.2 |
| Australian Corporate Bond | 0.0 | 0.3 | -1.0 | -1.4 | 3.0 |
| US Treasury | 0.1 | 0.0 | -0.2 | 0.0 | 4.6 |
| Cash | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 4.1 |
| Commodities & Crypto | Daily % | Weekly % | 1 Month % | 3 Month % | 1 Year % |
| Gold | -0.7 | 2.7 | 4.3 | 17.1 | 55.5 |
| Silver | 0.7 | 8.8 | 20.8 | 50.0 | 100.0 |
| Crude Oil | -2.0 | -2.4 | -5.0 | -10.2 | -7.6 |
| Bitcoin | -4.0 | -5.1 | -10.4 | -23.4 | -21.5 |
