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The ASX 200 joined the global sharemarket rally, adding 1.9%, after healthcare US biotech company Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) announced positive results from their Phase 1 trial of a potential COVID-19 treatment.

Six blue-chip updates In the middle of another COVID-19 shutdown and with most companies approaching full-year earnings season, it’s important to take stock of what occurred in the previous few months. We’ve decided to provide an update on some non-traditional Aussie blue-chips after the strongest quarterly performance for the market in decades. Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG)…

The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) experienced another choppy day, with intra-day likely to be the new normal, finishing 0.6% lower. Consumer staples (+0.2%) offered the only protection as the impacts of Victoria’s widespread shutdowns and a reversal of recently eased restrictions in the US were front and centre once again.

The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) gained another 1%, taking a positive lead from US markets, with over 60% of the rally coming from the Big Four Banks, Commonwealth Bank of Australia Ltd (ASX:CBA) up 2.2%, and miners, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) up 2.2% after the iron ore price exceeding US$118 per tonne.

Investors are realising that without meaningful technology exposure, their portfolios are missing a major growth driver. However, the difficulty of picking individual stocks should not be under-estimated, with the innovations and business models of many tech stocks hard to grapple with.

The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) surrendered early gains to finish Friday down 0.6%, pulling the market down -2.3% for the week. Real estate, -5.4%, and industrial’s, -4.6%, were among the hardest hit as Victoria’s spike in COVID-19 cases shut the second largest state down for another six weeks; Qantas Ltd (ASX:QAN) lead the falls down 8.0%. Despite offering a weaker leader to the ASX, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq recorded positive results on Friday, driven 1.1% and 0.8% as the recovery in the banking sector continued.

It was another volatile day for the ASX 200 (ASX:XJO), with the market finishing 0.6% higher, as a weak lead from the US impacted on confidence. The only two detractors were the property and staples sector, with materials and mining once again a highlight, driven by BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP), +2.2%, and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO), 3.3%.

A mixed day ahead, some green shoots and hoarding begins again The ASX 200 finished 1.5% lower following a spike in COVID-19 cases in Melbourne resulting in an extended six-week lockdown. The weakness was exacerbated by record numbers in the US, where a daily record of 60,000 cases was hit. Every sector in the ASX…

Looking to give your portfolio diversification via direct international equity exposure such as FAANGS? It makes sense to invest internationally as most of the growth that comes from big earners are in other countries. Therefore, the growth potential and risk minimisation benefits are far greater than investing in just Australian equities. For example, by only investing in Australia, you miss out on the large global IT, consumer discretionary and healthcare companies.

Despite a strong overseas lead, the ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) paused on Tuesday, pushed marginally lower by the reinstatement of Stage 3 restrictions in Melbourne. A strong lead from the mining sector, particularly gold with St Barbara Mining Ltd (ASX:SBM) adding 10.3% and BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) up 1.3%, wasn’t enough to overcome an afternoon collapse in the property and travel sectors.

It’s heating up…… The ASX 200 (ASX:XJO) closed above 6,000 points for the third straight day, despite falling 0.7% for the session. Technology was the only positive sector with the major miners the biggest detractors, BHP Group Ltd (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX:RIO) down 1.7% and 1.0% respectively, amid signs of a rebound in…

It was another strong finish for the ASX 200 on Friday, adding 0.4% and finishing the week up 2.6% on the back of rally in both the healthcare and communications sectors. CSL Ltd (ASX:CSL), up 2.7%, and Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX:TLS), 4.0%, were the standouts. The market continues to improve despite the worsening COVID-19 case numbers in Victoria and the US which seem likely to result in a second round of shutdown measures.