Miners soar on ASX after China stimulus package
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The news: Miners made up 18 of the top 20 performers across the ASX 200 in morning trade, boosted by China’s slate of new growth policy measures, along with a cut to its mortgage rate for existing housing loans, announced on Tuesday.
The numbers: Champion Iron (8.8%), Liontown Resources (5.9%) and Stanmore Resources (5.1%) led gains by midday AEST.
Mineral Resources (5%), West African Resources (4.5%), Lynas Rare Earths (4.4%), Coronado Global Resources (4.1%), Genesis Minerals (4.1%), South32 (4.1%) and Fortescue (3.8%) made up the rest of the top 10 performers.
Materials, up 2.45%, was the best performing sector as the wider sharemarket added 0.1%.
The context: UBS noted that fresh policy support from China on Tuesday offers Australian miners "short-term relief". This has offered relief for equities, UBS said, but more is needed to appropriately stabilise property market activity and house prices, thereby supporting consumer confidence and ultimately consumption.
Westpac noted that commodities were "the big winners" from the announcement by China's Central Bank, with iron ore prices gaining on the new monetary stimulus aimed at supporting the property sector.
Of the Australian majors, UBS is 'buy' rated on South32, with an expected commodity basket uplift, volume growth and buyback to offer price support.
UBS is 'neutral' on BHP and Rio Tinto, with Rio "preferred on valuation grounds". Fortescue, due to UBS' "cautious iron ore stance", and Mineral Resources remain 'sell' rated.
The sources: UBS research, Westpac research
