ASX:MSB News 8 January 2026

Australia stock market today: ASX 200 closes higher as tech rebounds; BlueScope pushes back on $13.2b bid

The S&P/ASX 200 closed up 0.29% at 8,720.8, led by gains in tech and healthcare, while miners fell. BlueScope rejected a A$13.2 billion takeover bid from SGH and Steel Dynamics. Ansell shares dropped 6.2% as CEO Neil Salmon announced his retirement, with Nathalie Ahlström set to take over in February. The Australian dollar slipped to about 67 U.S. cents.

8 January 2026

ASX:ANN·ASX:ASB·ASX:BSL·ASX:CMM·ASX:LYC·ASX:MSB·ASX:ZIP·NYSE:STLD·Stock Market·Technology

P&G stock ends week near $159 as rate-cut talk returns — what investors watch next

7 February 2026

Procter & Gamble shares closed Friday up 0.4% at $159.17, trading between $158.01 and $159.99. The Dow hit a record 50,115.67, rising 2.47%. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said one or two rate cuts are possible this year if the labor market weakens. P&G will pay a $1.0568 quarterly dividend on Feb. 17.

Utilities stocks brace for a rate test next week after XLU lags Dow’s 50,000 rally

7 February 2026

Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) rose 0.58% to $43.35 Friday, lagging the S&P 500’s 1.97% and Dow’s 2.47% gains. AES Corp climbed 2.95%, while Duke Energy slipped 1.26% ahead of its Feb. 10 earnings report. Investors await key U.S. jobs and inflation data next week that could shift Treasury yields and rate expectations.

Real estate stocks rise as rate-cut bets return; XLRE ends at $41.99 ahead of payrolls and CPI

7 February 2026

U.S. real estate stocks rose Friday, with XLRE up 1.8% to $41.99 and VNQ and IYR each gaining 1.6%. The Dow closed above 50,000 for the first time as the 10-year Treasury yield ended at 4.206%. Bank of America downgraded Public Storage and Extra Space Storage, citing weak housing turnover and high borrowing costs. The delayed January jobs report is set for Feb. 11, with CPI due Feb. 13.

Communication services stocks lag the rebound — what XLC investors need to know before Monday

7 February 2026

The Communication Services Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLC) fell 0.39% to $115.76 Friday, lagging the S&P 500’s 1.97% gain. Alphabet Class C shares dropped 2.48%, Meta lost 1.31%, and News Corp slid 6%. Comcast, Netflix, and Disney rose, partly offsetting losses. Investors remain wary of heavy AI-related capital spending by big tech firms.

ASX:MSB News 8 January 2026

Australia stock market today: ASX 200 closes higher as tech rebounds; BlueScope pushes back on $13.2b bid

Stock Market Today

P&G stock ends week near $159 as rate-cut talk returns — what investors watch next

Utilities stocks brace for a rate test next week after XLU lags Dow’s 50,000 rally

Real estate stocks rise as rate-cut bets return; XLRE ends at $41.99 ahead of payrolls and CPI

Communication services stocks lag the rebound — what XLC investors need to know before Monday