ASX edges lower as profit-taking sets in
The Australian share market slipped slightly on Friday, with the S&P/ASX 200 Index falling 6.90 points to close at 8973.10. Despite the minor decline, the benchmark notched a 2.6 per cent gain for August, marking its fifth consecutive monthly rise and a fourth straight week of gains. The index has now climbed over 25 per cent from its April lows. Real estate and banking sectors were among the weakest performers, with Stockland Corporation Limited (ASX: SGP) down 1.4 per cent, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) losing 1.2 per cent, and Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX: WBC) shedding 1.1 per cent.

Corporate moves and standout performances
Technology led the way with NextDC Limited (ASX: NXT) jumping 17.4 per cent following a positive market reaction to its capital efficiency plans. On the corporate front, Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) surged 10.4 per cent after delivering a profit beat, while Austal Limited (ASX: ASB) rose 14.5 per cent on the back of a record order pipeline and a federal shipbuilding deal. Meanwhile, PEXA Group Limited (ASX: PXA) fell 8.6 per cent after its profit missed expectations. Other notable moves included Mesoblast Limited (ASX: MSB) tumbling 9.5 per cent, Boss Energy Limited (ASX: BOE) gaining 7.7 per cent, Cettire Limited (ASX: CTT) rising 5 per cent, and Bubs Australia Limited (ASX: BUB) climbing 9 per cent after reporting its first statutory profit.

Global markets soften on inflation concerns
On Wall Street, major indices closed lower on Friday as inflation data tempered investor sentiment. The S&P 500 Index declined 0.6 per cent, the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 1.2 per cent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 92 points, or 0.2 per cent. The US Core PCE inflation gauge rose 2.9 per cent year-over-year in July, in line with forecasts but its fastest pace since February. Weakness in tech stocks saw NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA) drop 3.4 per cent and Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE: DELL) fall 8.9 per cent, while Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA) rose 12.9 per cent on strong cloud results. Despite the day’s pullback, all three major indices posted monthly gains, with the Nasdaq recording its fifth consecutive monthly rise. US markets will be closed Monday for Labor Day.