End of Day Report – Monday 5 October: ASX 200 rises 4 pts - Well off morning highs - CSL with a Swiss deaal - US futures ease - Firmus in focus.

The ASX 200 pushed slightly higher, up only 4 points at 8,686 after hitting a high of 8,736 earlier in the day. Volumes were very light, given it was a holiday in most of Australia. The banking sector topped out early, with only modest moves. At the final countdown, **CBA** down 0.2%, and **ANZ** up 0.8%. **MQG** had a good day again, up 1.0%, but the rest of the financials were wishy-washy, with insurance slightly easier, led by **QBE** down 1.0%. REITs again under some pressure as bond yields stayed stubbornly high, although **GMG** managed to rise 1.5%, but the rest were down around 1%. Meanwhile, industrials also slipped away today, with retail stocks under some pressure. **WES** down 1.0%, and **JBH** down 1.1%. **TLS** fell 0.4%, and both **WOW** and **COL** fell in a similar fashion. Healthcare stocks were better, led by **CSL**, which put on another 0.9% following a Swiss pharma acquisition, and **PME** also rose 1.8%. A mixed session in the tech space, with **WTC** down 2.1% and **XRO** down 2.3%, with **CDA** making gains again. In resources, **BHP** and **RIO** were slightly firmer, but the gold miners came off a little as bullion wavered after the non-farm payrolls numbers in the U.S. Lithium stocks tried hard to push ahead, whilst rare earths slipped, with **LYC** down 2.5%.  In corporate news today, all eyes on the book build for **Firmus** (AIF), as media reports that the 7 billion IPO has been covered and early backers are being rewarded with half the IPO allocation. **SXE** had a good day on a Macquarie research report, and **MGH** is also doing well with its exposure to Firmus. We also saw news out from **INA** allowing the private equity bidder to conduct due diligence. Asian markets quiet with China closed for Golden Week. South Korea closed today too. Japan up strongly. 10-year yields steady at 5.34% .US Futures drifting lower. Nasdaq down 34 and Dow down 83. **Marcus Today – Daily Market Insights**  Marcus Today provides clear, practical commentary for self-directed investors – covering markets, portfolios, education, and decision-making without the noise.  If you'd like to go further:  **Start a free 14-day trial of Marcus Today** http://bit.ly/mt-trial-podcast  **Join Marcus Today** Use code MTPODCAST for 10% off http://bit.ly/mt-join-podcast-offer  **MT20 – Managed ETF Portfolio** A professionally managed portfolio run by Marcus Padley and the team, using ASX-listed ETFs with active market timing. http://bit.ly/mt20-podcast  **Principles – How We Think About Investing** A short video series on timing, behaviour, and decision-making. No stock tips. http://bit.ly/mt-principles-podcast  —  **Disclaimer**  This podcast is general information only and does not consider your personal circumstances. It is not personal financial advice.