The ASX Breathes Again & GYG's U-Turn

The ASX 200 edged 0.4% for the week, its second weekly gain in six weeks. Investors returned to the share market as unemployment rose to 4.5%, reducing pressure on the RBA to lift rates further. There is also growing optimism about a potential US-Iran peace deal, a move that markets around the world will celebrate.

Despite hopes of a peace deal, this isn't the first time we have heard this news and Trump once again remains a wildcard. Iran's comments on uranium enrichment and the Strait of Hormuz rattled confidence late in the week, and any headline out of the Middle East could gap the market at Monday's open.

This week’s best performers

Elevra Lithium Limited (ASX:ELV) +24.70%

After being down over 18% last week (covered in Issue #18), the stock bounced back as investors reassessed the full picture. While the $295 million raise diluted existing shareholders and initially tanked the share price, the expansion could more than double the mine's post-tax NPV, giving the market reason to reconsider – which they did this week.

Guzman Y Gomez Ltd (ASX:GYG) +16.53%

GYG rallied this week, despite closing down its Chicago restaurants and exiting the US market entirely – a core part of GYG's pitch at its 2024 IPO. This plan to expand into the US was bold, to fight off Chipotle, Taco Bell and other household Mexican fast-food giants in the US was never going to be easy. Founder and co-CEO Steven Marks conceded defeat, but also noted that turning the business profitable would take significantly more time and capital than originally planned. Meanwhile, GYG lifted its FY26 earnings guidance to $85m and remains on track to open 32 new Australian restaurants.

Sunrise Energy Metals Limited (ASX:SRL) +11.99%

Sunrise Energy Metals had no firm-specific news driving the move this week, yet the critical mineral developer has risen nearly 3,500% in the past year. The company's appeal lies in its scandium deposit in central-west NSW – a largely unknown critical mineral with major potential in aerospace, defence and 5G infrastructure. Already backed by US defence giant Lockheed Martin, Sunrise Energy Metals is one to watch.

This week’s worst performers

Predictive Discovery Limited (ASX:PDI) -22.58%

PDI's downfall this week seems to be from its own success. No firm-specific news drives this decline, but after gaining more than 72% over the past year following gold’s rally and its merger with Robex Resources – investors are simply taking their profits.

Brambles Limited (ASX:BXB) -22.58%

Brambles had its worst trading day in more than two decades on Monday after cutting its FY26 profit guidance from 8–11% growth down to just 3–5%. The global supply-chain logistics company had a backlog in its US subcontractor service centre network. Customers using automated handling systems are requiring more consistent, higher-quality pallets to function, and Brambles hasn't delivered on its efficiency, leading to a US$60m earnings hit. Despite the bad news, the company announced a US$400m share buyback, signalling that its shares may be undervalued – but investors didn't buy this, sending the stock down.

Eagers Automotive Limited (ASX:APE) -9.91%

After a rough few months, the Brisbane-based vehicle dealer fell hard this week. No clear catalyst drove the move, but its recent acquisitions in Audi Centre Melbourne and a stake in Grand Motors Group, have brought attention from investors into its acquisition-led growth strategy. While Eagers' long-term shareholder returns remain strong, investors are reassessing whether its physical dealership network can hold its value as online and direct-to-consumer car sales accelerate, as foot traffic declines, fixed costs stay high and margins potentially suffer.