Source: Krish Capital Pty Ltd

Index Update: The Australian sharemarket ended lower on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 slipping 25.40 points, or 0.29%, to close at 8,805.00. The index has been broadly flat over the past five sessions and now sits 2.76% below its 52-week high. Sectors finished mixed, with six of eleven ending in the red alongside the broader index. A-REITs were the top performer, adding 0.69% on the day and 1.91% across the week.

Healthcare weighed on the market, declining 1.76%, while Financials dropped 0.7% following a series of job cut announcements across the sector. Bendigo Bank became the third major lender to confirm staff reductions this week, joining Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) and National Australia Bank (NAB).

Macro Update: Australia recorded a significant increase in international travel in July 2025, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Short-term visitor arrivals reached 743,210 for the month, up 12.8% compared to a year earlier. Short-term resident returns also increased, rising 5.1% year-on-year to 1,205,170. In total, 2,068,460 arrivals were recorded in July, representing a 7.4% increase from July 2024. Departures also grew sharply, with 1,819,770 people leaving Australia during the month, up 10.3% on the previous year.

Separately, the ABS reported that the area of Australia’s inland water bodies has more than doubled since 2019. The update comes from the improved National Land Cover Account, highlighting significant environmental changes over the past six years.

Top Market Movers: Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) led the gains on Tuesday, rising 6.24% to close at AUD 9.70, followed by Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) up 6.24% at AUD 5.45 and Lifestyle Communities Ltd (ASX: LIC) climbing 4.70% to AUD 5.57. On the downside, Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings Ltd (ASX: NEC) fell 35.88% to AUD 1.09, Boss Energy Ltd (ASX: BOE) slipped 12.15% to AUD 1.74, and Neuren Pharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: NEU) dropped 7.46% to AUD 18.60.

Commodity Update: The dollar steadied in early Asian trade Thursday after a surprise drop in U.S. factory-gate prices strengthened expectations of a Fed rate cut next week, with focus on U.S. CPI data later. Commodities saw mixed moves: gold slipped 0.19% to USD 3,675.10, copper eased 0.22% to USD 9,989.65, while silver gained 0.40% to USD 41.76. Brent crude edged up 0.10% to USD 67.50 as oversupply and weak U.S. demand capped geopolitical risks.

Our Stance: The Australian sharemarket eased on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX 200 closing at 8,805.00, as losses in Healthcare and Financials outweighed strength in A-REITs. Investor sentiment was pressured by continued job cut announcements from major banks. On the macro front, travel flows improved in July with visitor arrivals and resident returns both rising. Environmental data also signaled long-term structural shifts, with Australia’s inland water bodies more than doubling since 2019. Commodity markets were mixed, with gold and copper edging lower while silver and crude oil posted modest gains, as traders weighed softer U.S. inflation signals against Fed policy uncertainty. Overall, markets appear caught between domestic resilience and global caution, suggesting investors may remain selective until clearer monetary and growth cues emerge.

The S&P/ASX 200 Index slipped 25.40 points, closing the session with a bearish candlestick pattern. Despite this pullback, the broader technical structure remains constructive. On the daily chart, the index is trading below its 21-period Simple Moving Average (SMA), which continues to act as a key resistance level. Immediate support is placed near 8,720.50; holding above this zone could enable consolidation of recent gains and sustain investor confidence in the uptrend. From a multi-timeframe perspective, the index also trades above its 50-period SMA on the weekly chart, reinforcing the potential for sustained bullish momentum.