Every sector closed in the red with energy and materials plays by far the worst in show, their respective sectors were down 4.5% and 3.4% respectively.

There were some hard hit stocks on the day, with Aquarius Platinum (-11%) and Aquila Resources (-10.3%) having sessions they would much rather forget.

The big four banks were not spared from the carnage, with NAB (-3.7%) and CBA (-3.1%) the worst of the group. Commodity price weakness did not help the mining majors, with BHP and Rio Tinto dropping 3.8% and 3% respectively.

Iluka Resources declined 1.5% after reporting that its FY12 net profit fell 33% over the year to $363.2 million. At the other end of the spectrum, Seek enjoyed a 4.7% gains whilst Qantas was flying high, adding 2.8%.

All-in-all it was a stinker however, with the ASX 200 suffering through a 119 point (-2.3%) decline to settle at 4980.

Evening Market Update: Dog Day Afternoon is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

The clear majority of sectors remained in the red however, with materials companies the hardest hit. Mining majors BHP (-1.8%), Rio Tinto (-1.8%) and Fortescue (-1%) all weighed.Other sectors hit hard were the IT and energy sectors.

Winners on the day included OM Holdings and Gindalbie Metals, each of which added 5%. At the other end of the spectrum, Energy World Corporation (-8.6%) and Mincor (-8.6%) bled the most.

The XJO ended the day down 39 points (-0.9%), at 4350.

Evening Market Analysis: Another Rough Day is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

The sectors were split evenly amongst winners and losers, with utilities and telcos holding up the market. Conversely, energy and industrial stocks were the weakest links.

The big four banks all finished above water, with CBA (+0.7%) and ANZ (+0.6%) the best of the group. The mining majors were mixed as were commodity markets overnight. BHP lost 0.1%, whilst rival Rio Tinto recorded a 0.3% gain.

Webjet was one of the worst performers on the day, plummeting 15%, after releasing FY13 market guidance which failed to impress. CSR jumped 7.1%, after reporting a 60% slump in first half profit, which was better than the market expected.

The ASX 200 added nine points (+0.2%) to settle at 4388.

Evening Market Analysis: Modest Gains is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

The majority of sectors close in the red, with energy, financials and utilities the weakest links. At the other end of the spectrum, IT, healthcare and consumer discretionary stocks were the best performers.

At the heavy end of the market, mining giants BHP (-0.6%) and Rio Tinto (-1.1%) weighed. The banks split the pair, although the results were slightly distorted as NAB and WBC traded ex-div.

ANZ (+0.8%) and CBA (+1.1%) gained ground, whilst NAB (-4.3%) and WBC (-2.9%) lost ground. For the week the XJO added just two points.

Evening Market Analysis: Flat Week is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

Most sectors ended up finishing in the green, as buyers emerged after the lunchtime break.

Materials, IT and financial stocks were the best performers, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, consumer discretionary and industrial stocks were the weakest links.

The biggest gainers on the day included nexus energy (+4.4%) and Atlas Iron (+3.3%) whilst the biggest losers were OM Holdings (-8%) and Aquila Resources (-7%).

Evening Market Analysis: Strong Finish For Aussie is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

Materials stocks were the best performers, with BHP (+1.8%) and Rio Tinto (+1.1%) recording solid gains. IT and industrials were also at the top of the list, whilst utilities, consumer staples and financials were the weakest links.

The majority of the big four banks put in a performance they would rather forget, with ANZ (-0.7%), NAB (-0.6%) and WBC (-0.4%) all losing ground. For the week, the XJO lost 0.3%.

Evening Market Analysis: Soft Close To Soft Week is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

All the big four banks closed weaker, with CBA the worst performer, losing 0.8%. The mining majors weighed on the market after a mostly weaker night on commodity markets. BHP and Rio Tinto lost 1.5% and 1.8% respectively.

The ASX 200 let go of 38 points (-0.8%) to settle at 4472. The market had a horror week, dropping 2.2%.

Evening Market Analysis: Dismal Day For Market is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

Conversely, consumers discretionary and materials were the worst performing. The big four banks closed mixed with NAB and CBA both gaining 0.4% and Westpac flat.

ANZ dropped 0.9% after reporting its FY12 results and providing a gloomy outlook for FY13. The major miners advanced despite a mixed night for commodity prices. BHP and Rio Tinto added 0.2% and 0.4% respectively.

The ASX 200 put on five points (+0.1%) to settle at 4511.

Evening Market Analysis: Aussie Nudges Higher is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

At home, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 1.4% in second quarter, beating economist expectations of a 0.9% rise. On an annualised basis inflation was 2.00%, above expectations of a 1.7% rate.

Trimmed mean CPI, which better measures the underlying trend in inflation, showed a rise of 0.7% in the June quarter, for an annual growth rate of 2.4%.

With core inflation now closer to the mid-point of the RBA’s 2% – 3% target band, it lessens the chance for an interest rate cut when it meets next month. All the sectors finished in the red, with materials and energy stocks the hardest hit.

All the big four banks closed weaker, with Westpac the worst performer, losing 0.7%. The mining majors weighed on the market as commodity prices fell. BHP and Rio Tinto lost 1.4% and 1% respectively.

The ASX 200 let go of 37 points (-0.8%) to settle at 4506.

Evening Marketing Analysis: ASX Lower At Close is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog

The sectors finished evenly split amongst winners and losers with telcos and property stocks leading the way higher. Conversely, IT and energy stocks were the worst performing.

The big four banks were mostly stronger with CBA (+0.8%) gaining the most ground of the group. NAB was the only one of the four to close in the red, losing 0.1%.

The major miners advanced despite a fall in commodity prices. BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue added 0.3%, 0.1% and 1.7% in that order.The ASX 200 put on two points (+0.1%) to settle at 4543.

Evening Market Analysis: Market Edges Higher is a post from: Australian Stock Report Market Pulse Blog