← All editions

The Markets Brief – May 13, 2026

May 13, 2026

The Markets Brief

ASX Pre-Market · 7:30am AEST

Opening Note

Wall Street closed mixed on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq falling 0.71% to 26,088.2 as chip stocks suffered a rare technical selloff, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.16% to 7,401.0 and the Dow added 0.11% to 49,760.6. ASX tech names face a soft open at Wednesday's session, but WTI crude surging 2.89% to $102.05 and copper gaining 2.16% to $6.63/lb point to firm conditions for the resources sector.

The 2026 Federal Budget, delivered by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night, is the dominant domestic theme, with proposed changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing set to reshape investor strategy across property and financial stocks. The Coalition has pledged to repeal the reforms, injecting policy uncertainty that markets will price through the week.

BHP (+2.49%), RIO (+3.13%), and FMG (+2.29%) led Tuesday's session as iron ore rallied on upbeat Chinese data — watch for follow-through at open as overnight copper and oil gains reinforce the commodity bid. WiseTech (WTC) fell 5.87% in Tuesday's session — no news catalyst in today's feed, investors should watch for an announcement at open.


Markets at a Glance

Indices

ASX 200 8,670.7 ▼ -0.36%
S&P 500 7,401.0 ▼ -0.16%
Dow Jones 49,760.6 ▲ +0.11%
Nasdaq 26,088.2 ▼ -0.71%

FX

AUD/USD 0.7244 ▼ -0.12%
AUD/GBP 0.5345 ▲ +0.41%
AUD/EUR 0.6168 ▲ +0.29%
AUD/JPY 114.0480 ▲ +0.07%

Rates

US 10Y 4.46% ▲ +1.20%

Commodities

Gold $4,722.60 ▼ -0.14%
WTI Oil $102.05 ▲ +2.89%
Copper $6.63 ▲ +2.16%

Crypto

Bitcoin $80,695 ▼ -1.26%

ASX Market Movers · Previous Session

▲ Top Gainers

IGO

IGO

$8.80 ▲ +4.39%

NEM

Newmont

$165.79 ▲ +4.37%

S32

South32

$4.35 ▲ +3.57%

PLS

Pilbara Minerals

$6.50 ▲ +3.50%

RIO

Rio Tinto

$185.42 ▲ +3.13%

ORG

Origin Energy

$11.62 ▲ +2.74%

BHP

BHP

$59.78 ▲ +2.49%

FMG

Fortescue

$21.91 ▲ +2.29%

▼ Top Losers

WTC

WiseTech

$39.80 ▼ -5.87%

SEK

Seek

$13.30 ▼ -3.97%

XRO

Xero

$80.13 ▼ -3.52%

RMD

ResMed

$27.60 ▼ -3.35%

TWE

Treasury Wine

$4.22 ▼ -3.21%

WHC

Whitehaven Coal

$7.68 ▼ -2.78%

REA

REA Group

$172.77 ▼ -2.70%

CPU

Computershare

$29.74 ▼ -2.68%

ASX Focus

Overview

Miners dominated Tuesday's ASX session as iron ore rallied on Chinese data beats, but Fortescue faces scrutiny after a court ordered a record $150m native title payout to the Yindjibarndi people and the budget's CGT reforms create headwinds for property and financial stocks.

The Guardian

Fortescue ordered to pay Yindjibarndi traditional owners $150m in record native title payout

A court ordered Fortescue (FMG) to pay the Yindjibarndi people $150m in the largest native title compensation ruling in Australian history. FMG closed Tuesday up 2.29% at $21.91, but the ruling introduces a material legal liability and sets a precedent that could affect other ASX-listed mining operators with native title exposure.

Australian Financial Review

SkinKandy plots 500-plus store empire as it prepares for ASX debut

Piercing and jewellery retailer SkinKandy is preparing for an ASX listing with ambitions to scale its network to more than 500 stores. The company is targeting the ASX equity market as it builds out a franchise model across Australia.

The Guardian

Budget 2026: Coalition pledges to repeal Chalmers' CGT and negative gearing reforms

Treasurer Chalmers' 2026 Budget includes changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing that directly affect property investors and ASX-listed real estate stocks — REA Group fell 2.70% in Tuesday's session. The Coalition has pledged to repeal the reforms, creating policy uncertainty across the property and financial sectors.


Macro & Policy

Overview

Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the 2026 Federal Budget on Tuesday, with capital gains tax and negative gearing reforms the headline policy changes directly affecting ASX investors and property markets.

The Guardian

Chalmers delivers 2026 budget speech

Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the 2026 Federal Budget on Tuesday, anchored by reforms to capital gains tax treatment and negative gearing that target property investors. The budget has drawn mixed reactions, with the Coalition immediately pledging to repeal the key tax measures.

The Guardian

Investor jitters over Starmer uncertainty drive UK borrowing costs to 28-year high

UK gilt yields hit their highest level in 28 years as political uncertainty around Prime Minister Starmer rattled bond markets, driving sterling lower. The move mirrors broader developed-market yield pressure — the US 10-year Treasury rose 1.20% to 4.46% in the same session, adding to rate headwinds for global equity valuations.


Commodities

Overview

Iron ore rallied on upbeat Chinese economic data, driving gains across all major ASX miners in Tuesday's session, while copper added 2.16% to $6.63/lb and WTI crude surged 2.89% to $102.05 — a broad commodity bid pointing to a strong resources open.

Business Recorder

Iron ore rallies on upbeat Chinese data

Iron ore prices rallied after Chinese economic data printed ahead of expectations, supporting the outlook for steel demand and Australian ore export volumes. The move drove BHP (+2.49% to $59.78), RIO (+3.13% to $185.42), FMG (+2.29% to $21.91), and S32 (+3.57% to $4.35) higher in Tuesday's ASX session.

Taipei Times

China Steel Corp raising prices amid demand and high costs

China Steel Corp is raising prices in response to stronger demand and elevated input costs, signalling that Chinese mills are absorbing higher raw material costs and passing them through. Higher steel prices are broadly positive for Australian iron ore and coking coal exporters including BHP, RIO, and Whitehaven Coal.


Global Markets

Overview

The Nasdaq fell 0.71% to 26,088.2 after chip stocks suffered a rare technical selloff driven by a bearish key reversal pattern, weighing on ASX-listed tech names with US earnings or sector exposure.

MarketWatch

This bearish 'key reversal' chart pattern could be why chip stocks suffered a rare selloff

A bearish key reversal technical pattern in semiconductor stocks contributed to a broad Nasdaq decline of 0.71% to 26,088.2 on Tuesday. ASX-listed tech names reflected the pressure — WiseTech (WTC) fell 5.87%, Xero (XRO) fell 3.52%, and ResMed (RMD) fell 3.35% in the same session.

MarketWatch

The Pentagon now estimates the Iran war is costing $29 billion — the overall economic toll is much greater

Pentagon figures put the direct cost of the Iran conflict at $29bn, with total economic costs significantly higher, pushing WTI crude to $102.05 (+2.89%) on Tuesday. Higher oil prices lifted ASX energy names — Origin Energy (ORG) gained 2.74% to $11.62 — but compress margins for Australian transport and airline operators.


The Number

$102.05

WTI crude settled at $102.05 on Tuesday — up 2.89% — as Pentagon estimates of $29bn in Iran war costs pushed energy markets higher, lifting ASX energy stocks while adding cost pressure to Australian fuel, transport, and airline sectors.

Your daily pre-market briefing

Subscribe Unsubscribe