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Global markets had a strong week, rallying on optimism over potential Ukraine peace talks, robust corporate earnings, and resilience in tech stocks. Investors largely looked past hotter-than-expected U.S. inflation data, with markets still pricing in rate cuts despite a more cautious stance from central banks.
In Australia, the ASX 200 gained 0.5%, reaching a new closing high on Friday as markets brushed off concerns about U.S. reciprocal tariffs. Industrials (+2.9%) led the charge, while Healthcare (-3.7%) struggled, weighed down by CSL’s results. The February reporting season is in full swing, with most earnings meeting or exceeding expectations, though some outlooks have disappointed, leading to sharp market reactions. Next week will be a key period for earnings, alongside Tuesday’s RBA decision, where markets are pricing in a 90% chance of a 25bps rate cut, though some analysts believe the odds are closer to 50/50.
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