The S&P/ASX 200 added 0.4% last week as mining and resource stocks dragged on the local market. Offshore, global stocks hit new highs with the S&P 500 up 1.6%, the EURO STOXX 50 adding 2.0% and the Nikkei 225 up by 3.3% despite continued North Korean aggression. BetaShares WisdomTree Japan ETF (HJPN) was the top performing equity ETF for the week, returning 3.9%.
The US dollar strengthened against most major currencies and US Treasury yields rose sharply. The Australian dollar pulled back 0.7% to US 80c, while the euro declined by a similar amount. The Japanese yen dropped 2.8% against the US dollar. Pound sterling gained 3.0% against the US dollar.
Precious metals retreated last week, with gold down 2.0% and silver down 2.1%. WTI Crude added 5.1%, trading above US$50/bbl for the first time since July.
The Australian ETF market saw inflows of A$76m and outflows of A$10m from domestically domiciled ETFs last week. The largest inflows were into cash and fixed income funds (PLUS and BILL) with a range of equity funds also attracting inflows.
ETF Securities launched ETFS ROBO Global Robotics and Automation ETF (ROBO), Australia's first specialist robotics, automation and AI ETF.