ASX 200 LIVE: Market Retreat and Beach Energy's Profit Slide
Updated: February 5, 2026, 9:03 AM
The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is expected to experience a downturn, with Beach Energy's profit taking an 8% slide. This comes as Bitcoin drops below $65,000, and the market grapples with broader economic concerns.
Market Highlights:
- ASX 200 Futures: Down 18 points or 0.2% to 8876
- AUD: -0.3% to US$0.6999
- Bitcoin: -5.1% to $72,231
- Wall Street: Dow Jones +0.5%, S&P 500 -0.5%, Nasdaq -1.5%
- VIX: +0.64 to 18.64
- Gold: +0.3% to $4961.75 per ounce
- Brent Oil: +2% to $68.67 per barrel
- Iron Ore: +0.2% to $102.15 per tonne
- 10-Year Yield: US 4.28%, Australia 4.86%
Key Events:
- Beach Energy's First-Half Profit Slide: 8% due to lower output
- Ainsworth's $43.1M Impairment from North America Unit
- Qualcomm's Tepid Forecast: Sign of a Shaky Phone Market
- ASX Trading Surges in January as Capital Raisings Ease
- Viva Energy Recruits Just Group MD Rendo
- Sun Silver Taps Sunstone for Maverick Springs Permitting
Economic Outlook and Central Bank Meetings:
- Australia's December Trade Data: Released at 11:30 AM
- Central Bank Policy Meetings: Bank of England (11 PM) and European Central Bank (12:15 AM AEDT on Friday)
Market Concerns and Trends:
- Tech Sector Sentiment: Investors' appetite for technology investments remains low, despite recent reductions in holdings.
- AI's Impact: Artificial intelligence is causing market turbulence, with software giants facing disruption.
- Wages and Inflation: Economists predict real wages will worsen next year as the government grapples with rising inflation.
- AI's Future: Bill Gates warns that most AI companies will fail, but the technology will continue to advance, potentially reshaping the job market in a decade.
Controversial Interpretation:
The market's reaction to AI advancements and the potential impact on traditional industries could spark debates about the future of work and the role of technology in the economy.
