ASX 200 Live Today - Thursday, 27th November
The S&P/ASX 200 is set to open modestly higher after US stocks rose, Canada hit a record
Today’s ASX 200 Updates
Welcome to our live ASX coverage for Thursday November 27. We’re excited to be trialing this new format. Expect a high volume of posts pre-market and more periodic updates throughout the day. Be sure to refresh manually for the latest updates — and let us know how we can make it even better.
Alan Kohler on Livewire: "We probably shouldn’t get too greedy"
[11:39 am] If you’ve spent the past few weeks staring at the S&P 500 and wondering why the ASX can’t behave like a caffeinated AI stock chart, the legendary Alan Kohler AM has a message for you: relax
He argues the steady, unsexy 7-ish percent we’ve earned this year including dividends is precisely what a healthy market looks like - and that chasing-the U.S.’s AI sugar high comes with more baggage than most people care to acknowledge. Kohler also shares why he thinks parts of the ASX - healthcare, biotech, critical minerals - have way more going on beneath the surface than the headlines suggest.
See the interview with veteran business journo here.
Also worth a look: my colleague's Stephanie Gardner’s interview with ClearBridge’s Michael Slack, where he names two ASX stocks primed for “the copper decade.”
This morning's winners and losers
[11:19 am] Check out the morning's top gainers and decliners below.
Okay, cards on the table - Sunrise Energy Metals (SRL) wasn’t a name I followed closely (I’m usually a large-cap/ETF guy). But last month, U.S. defence heavyweight Lockheed Martin, maker of the F-35, locked in an option to purchase 15 tonnes per year of scandium oxide from Sunrise’s Syerston Project.
The strange part? SRL is up more than 22% today on no new announcements. At this point, a speeding ticket wouldn’t be surprising. And the 12-month return? A jaw-dropping 2,391%!
Fund managers such as HMC Capital and GQG Partners are also benefiting from today’s risk-on mood in markets. On the other hand, Australian Ethical and QBE are under pressure and trading lower.
"Insurance" rate hikes on the cards: CBA
[11:00 am] It’s time to turn to one of the biggest swing factors for equity markets: interest rates. Australia again finds itself in a globally unusual position.
The U.S. is barreling toward another rate cut in December as key indicators weaken.
Canada’s economy has cooled sharply, sending rates tumbling from 5% to 2.25% — a key reason why their equity markets have been on fire in 2025 (TSX +27%, S&P 500 +17%).
By contrast, the ASX has delivered more modest single-digit total returns of 9.26%.
Australia’s challenge, albeit a good one, is that the economy is holding up far better compared to other parts of the world, but that brings with it a problem: stocky inflation.
The ABS reported inflation jumping to 3.8% in October, up from 3.6% in September, well above the RBA's 2-3% target.
CBA chief economist Luke Yeaman told the ABC the numbers are “a serious concern”, noting two upside surprises in both the September-quarter data and the October monthly print - developments that are sure to unsettle the RBA. Still, he cautioned against panic.
Yeaman’s base case:
No rate cuts this year, as the RBA waits for a longer run of data.
The prospect of an “insurance” rate hike is now back on the table for 2026.
If Australian rates remain higher for longer, it will shape how the ASX 200 performs relative to global markets, particularly against economies where rate easing is already underway.
Was the lull in bullion a golden opportunity?
[10:34 am] As highlighted in the Morning Wrap, ASX gold stocks are the ones to watch today, following yet another glittering session for Canadian miners. (If you want a lead on commodity names, Canada is often the best place to look first.)
Among the major producers:
Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (MNRS) jumped 3.14% to $14.44
Northern Star (NST) added 4.22% to $27.89
Newmont (NEM) climbed 3.97% to $139.60
Evolution Mining (EVN) rose 2.75% to $11.97
Genesis Minerals (GMD) gained 2.11% to $6.76
It appears the lull in gold mining equities over the past month was short-lived, with the bullion price managing to hold at the resistance of $4,100 (it's at $4,160 right now).
Who loves dividends? I do!
[10:10 am] One of the ASX’s most under-the-radar financial services names - dual-listed Kiwi insurer Tower Limited (TWR) - has rewarded shareholders with a sharp lift in dividends after delivering record profits for the year ended 30 September 2025.
The company declared a 16.5 cps final dividend, bringing total FY25 dividends to 24.5 cps - a 158% increase from FY24’s 9.5 cps.
Underlying profit jumped 28% to $107.2 million, up from $83.5 million in FY24.
Reported profit rose 12.6% to $83.7 million, compared with $74.3 million last year.
Gross written premiums increased 2% to $600 million.
The company's shares have soared more than 40% over the past 12 months, compared to a flat performance for QBE and a 10% fall for IAG.
Good morning!
[9:44 am] S&P/ASX 200 futures are up 0.24% after Wall Street delivered a solid, broad-based rally into American Thanksgiving tomorrow, while Canada’s TSX surged to a new record on the back of strong gains in commodities and precious metals.
Canadian gold miners jumped more than 4% and major TSX base-metals ETFs climbed over 1%, putting ASX resource producers firmly in focus today.
Meanwhile, the Magnificent Seven continued their game of musical chairs - NVIDIA rebounded 1.37%, while Google eased 1.04% as leadership rotated yet again.
If you’re new to the blog – catch up quick via today’s Morning Wrap.
