ASX200 Hits Record Territory as Global Momentum Builds, Lithium and Graphite in Focus

4 min read | July 17, 2025 09:33 PM PDT | By Team Kalkine Media

ASX200 Hits Record Territory as Global Momentum Builds, Lithium and Graphite in Focus — Image source: Shutterstock

Wall Street’s Strength Sets the Tone

US markets continued their upward march, with broad-based gains across major indices. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq ended near their session highs, supported by upbeat quarterly results from major companies and better-than-expected economic data. The Russell 2000, which represents small-cap stocks, also rallied — a sign of growing risk appetite among global investors.

Corporate results were in sharp focus. (NASDAQ:PEP) climbed strongly after reporting impressive growth in international sales and its higher-protein product lines. Similarly, (NASDAQ:TSM) surged after announcing a substantial rise in profit, driven by booming AI chip demand. Despite this, there was caution around its future outlook due to the uncertainty tied to upcoming US tariffs.

Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) gained ground after its second-quarter earnings beat expectations, prompting the streaming giant to revise its full-year forecast upward. United Airlines (NASDAQ:UAL) also lifted sentiment by raising its full-year projections, signalling a continued rebound in travel demand.

In the tech infrastructure space, (NASDAQ:GOOGL) and (NASDAQ:META) advanced after unveiling plans for a global subsea cable initiative, which could reshape internet connectivity worldwide. Additionally, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) made headlines with internal restructuring in its cloud division, while (NASDAQ:UBER) announced a multi-million-dollar investment into Lucid (NASDAQ:LCID) as it gears up to launch a robotaxi fleet.

Battery Metals in Spotlight as Tariffs Shift Global Dynamics

Graphite and lithium producers are back in focus after the US government imposed steep tariffs on Chinese graphite imports. This move is expected to have a ripple effect on global supply chains, potentially boosting demand for non-Chinese producers. Companies involved in battery-grade materials may see renewed interest as markets anticipate supply diversification strategies.

In Australia, this development places attention on local players in the battery materials sector. While the immediate impact on prices or supply agreements remains to be seen, the broader outlook for lithium and graphite has become more constructive, especially for producers and developers based outside of China.

Macroeconomic Outlook: Central Banks Stay Measured

On the central bank front, US policymakers maintained a cautious tone, with no major shifts in commentary on interest rate movements. The US Federal Reserve continues to monitor inflation and tariffs carefully, while Australia’s own unemployment data—showing a slight rise—has increased expectations of a possible easing move at the next monetary policy meeting.

Across Europe and Asia, markets were mixed. Japan saw modest gains despite lingering debt concerns, while UK data revealed a slight uptick in unemployment, though job losses were less severe than anticipated.

Looking Ahead

Investors will be watching how global trade policies evolve, particularly with US and EU trade talks heating up and additional tariffs being considered on both sides. Meanwhile, corporate earnings and macroeconomic data remain key drivers of market sentiment.

With optimism firming across both equity and commodity markets, and key sectors like battery materials gaining traction, the local bourse appears set to benefit from a globally supportive backdrop. As the ASX200 tracks new highs, attention may increasingly shift toward domestic sectors poised to ride the next wave of global growth.

Disclaimer

The content, including but not limited to any articles, news, quotes, information, data, text, reports, ratings, opinions, images, photos, graphics, graphs, charts, animations and video (Content) is a service of Kalkine Media LLC (Kalkine Media, we or us) and is available for personal and non-commercial use only. The principal purpose of the Content is to educate and inform. The Content does not contain or imply any recommendation or opinion intended to influence your financial decisions and must not be relied upon by you as such. Some of the Content on this website may be sponsored/non-sponsored, as applicable, but is NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold the stocks of the company(s) or engage in any investment activity under discussion. Kalkine Media is neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice through this platform. Users should make their own enquiries about any investments and Kalkine Media strongly suggests the users to seek advice from a financial adviser, stockbroker or other professional (including taxation and legal advice), as necessary. Kalkine Media hereby disclaims any and all the liabilities to any user for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising from any use of the Content on this website, which is provided without warranties. The views expressed in the Content by the guests, if any, are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Kalkine Media. Some of the images/music that may be used on this website are copyright to their respective owner(s). Kalkine Media does not claim ownership of any of the pictures/music displayed/used on this website unless stated otherwise. The images/music that may be used on this website are taken from various sources on the internet, including paid subscriptions or are believed to be in public domain. We have used reasonable efforts to accredit the source (public domain/CC0 status) to where it was found and indicated it, as necessary.