Afternoon trading October 30

Thanks @shovel40, @Fiji1, @Patterns and morning crew.

Half-time wrap:

The share market slumped to a fresh 52-week low as fears of higher interest rates and an expanded conflict in the Middle East drove investors to the sidelines.

The ASX 200 dropped 28 points or 0.4% to its lowest level since last October. Eight of eleven sectors declined. Energy, financials and consumer staples fared worst. The materials sector resisted the falling tide as Newmont, Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue Metals were supported by higher gold and bulk metal prices.

US stocks finished mostly lower on Friday as investors weighed a mixed batch of earnings and reduced risk as Israel intensified its ground assault on Gaza. The S&P 500 dipped 0.48%, joining the Nasdaq in a technical correction. The broadest of Wall Street's major share benchmarks has fallen 10.28% since July.


Personal trading: Messy morning. Took ERW, RAC and RGL at/near the lows. Got KAI too early.