End of Day Report – Tuesday 4 February: ASX 200 gives up gains | Banks slip, gold better

The ASX 200 finishes down 5 at 8374 (0.1%) as nerves and some investor apathy kicked in. China imposing a 15% tariff on US Coal and LNG hurting sentiment late. After a strong start banks faded with the Big Bank Basket closed modestly lower at $260.06(-0.25%). CBA down 0.3% with WBC down 0.2%. MQG kicked 0.4% higher and other financials improved, GQG up 2.4% and XYZ bouncing 1.0% on Bitcoin and tech sentiment. Insurers mixed, QBE down 0.2% and SUN down. REITs slid a little, GMG down 1.2% and SGP off 1.6% with 10-year yields higher at 4.41%. Industrials drifted lower, BXB off 1.6% with ALL down 1.3% and WOW and COL easing. Tech better with WTC up 3.6% and the All-Tech Index up 1.3%. Resources were generally firm, iron ore stocks gained, RIO bouncing 1.6% on Canadian news. Gold miners were in demand, NEM up 0.9% with GMD rallying 2.5% and EVN up 1.6%. LYC slipped back 3.8% and lithium stocks bounced slightly, PLS up 2.7% and MIN up 2.4%. Oil and gas stocks drifted down, uranium stocks mixed, PDN up 1.3%. In corporate news, SEK pulled out of XF1 bid after vote failed to get up, PDI rallied 13.2% on a strategic placement and PME up again on a $53m order. On the economic front, consumer confidence came in better than expected at a near 3-year high. 
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